Title: Weapon systems officer - Wikipedia
Headings: Weapon systems officer
Weapon systems officer
Contents
Gallery
United Kingdom
United States
Overview
U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Air Force
Training
Primary
Intermediate
Advanced
Graduate training
See also
References

Content: this would likely make the WSO the mission commander. U.S. Air Force
In the U.S. Air Force, "WSO" also refers to a USAF combat systems officer (CSO, formerly USAF navigator) who is the aft crew member in the F-15E Strike Eagle. In the B-52, the CSO crew members on the lower deck of the aircraft who were previously designated as navigator and radar navigator (bombardier) are now known as weapon systems officers while the CSO on the upper deck is an electronic warfare officer. In the B-1B Lancer bomber, there are 2 weapon systems officers manning crew positions aft of the pilot and co-pilot. They are known as the Offensive Systems Officer (OSO), and the Defensive Systems Officer (DSO). WSOs also flew in the now-retired F-111 Aardvark strike bomber, flown by the US Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force, and the now retired USAF EF-111A Raven airborne jammer. In the F-111, the WSO (EWO in the EF-111) was seated directly to the right of the pilot/aircraft commander. The WSO integrates with the pilot to collectively achieve and maintain crew efficiency, situational awareness and mission effectiveness. In the U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft such as the F-15E Strike Eagle, the WSO can pilot the aircraft when required, although this is typically during non-tactical portions of the mission (e.g., en route to mission area or returning to base). When designated as the mission commander (MC), the WSO is also responsible for all phases of the assigned mission, especially if there are multiple aircraft involved.