Title: Weapon systems officer | Military Wiki | Fandom
Headings: Weapon systems officer
Weapon systems officer
Contents
Overview
Training
Primary
Intermediate
Advanced
Graduate training
See also
References

Content: A weapon systems officer ( "WSO", pronounced "wizzo") is an air flight officer directly involved in all air operations and weapon systems of an aircraft. In the United States Navy, they are responsible for manning the weapon systems of a fighter. In the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps, "WSO" also refers to the aft crew member in the F-15E Strike Eagle, F/A-18D Hornet. 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). In the now retired F-111 Aardvark strike bomber, flown by the US Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force, and EF-111A Raven airborne jammer flown by the USAF only, the WSO 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., returning to base). When designated mission commander (MC), the WSO is also responsible for all phases of the assigned mission. In the British Royal Air Force, a WSO (formerly navigator) is a commissioned officer that operates aircraft mission systems on the Tornado GR4 amongst other platforms.