177th Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron

The 177th Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron (178 IWAS) is a unit of the Kansas Air National Guard 184th Intelligence Wing stationed at McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita, Kansas. The 177th is a non-flying squadron which trains in cyber warfare.

Overview
The mission of the squadron is to attack American military networks, to discover vulnerabilities before a real enemy does.

The Information Warfare Aggressor role is similar to the "tiger teams" commercial firms hire (and the air force pioneered) to test the defenses of corporate networks. The two aggressor squadrons have increased the quality and quantity of attacks that can be launched against U.S. systems, to see how well the defenses hold up. Members of the squadron then analyze the results of their attack. Finally, the aggressor hackers tell the sysadmins and other concerned personnel of the target unit what they did wrong, and why.

History
On 1 February 1984, the 177th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron was established with the unit flying F-4D Phantom IIs as a formal training unit (FTU) and conducting its first student training class. Converted to F-16A/B in 1990 and F-16C/D in 1992. Inactivated on 1 August 1994 when the F-16s were withdrawn from McConnell, being replaced by B-1Bs.

Lineage

 * Designated 177th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron and allotted to Kansas ANG, on 1 February 1984
 * Extended federal recognition on 1 February 1984
 * Re-designated: 177th Fighter Squadron, 16 March 1992
 * Inactivated on 1 August 1994


 * Re-designated: 177th Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron and activated, 1 April 2008

Assignments

 * 184th Tactical Fighter Group, 1 February 1984
 * 184th Fighter Group, 16 March 1992-1 August 1994
 * 184th Regional Support Group, 1 April 2008-Present

Stations

 * McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, 1 February 1984-1 August 1994; 1 April 2008-Present

Aircraft

 * F-4D Phantom II, 1984-1990
 * Block 1/5 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon, 1990-1992
 * Block 25 F-16C/D Fighting Falcon, 1992-1994