Electronic Attack Squadron 209 (VAQ-209) is a United States Navy Reserve electromagnetic attack squadron. Known as the "Star Warriors", the squadron flies the EA-18G Growler carrier-based electronic warfare jet aircraft. It is assigned to the Tactical Support Wing and based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. Its mission is: "To safely train to attain and maintain mobilization readiness for immediate employment in event of war or national emergency." The squadron's radio callsign is "Vader".

VAQ-209 was established at Naval Air Station Norfolk, Virginia, on 1 October 1977, as part of the U.S. Navy Reserve Carrier Air Wing 20 (CVWR-20). The squadron first flew the EA-6A Intruder. The squadron received special permission from Lucasfilm to use the name and Darth Vader's likeness in their livery.

In May 1990, VAQ-209 moved to Naval Air Facility Washington and began shifting to the EA-6B Prowler. This improved CVWR-20's electronic attack capability, and also marked the first homeporting of U.S. Navy EA-6Bs outside Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. In 1995, the squadron was deployed for combat operations over Bosnia and participated in Operation Deny Flight and Operation Deliberate Force. From 22 March to 22 September 1995, a two-plane detachment was deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt as part of Carrier Air Wing Eight.

In 1998, VAQ-209 deployed with three EA-6B aircraft to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, to conduct combat operations in Operation Northern Watch. During the operation, it was the first Navy Reserve Squadron in Incirlik, the first EA-6B squadron to bring the AGM-88 HARM and to develop operation-specific Prowler HARM and jamming tactics, and the first to be overall mission commander for strike packages. The squadron maintained 100% mission coverage and a 96% sortie completion rate.

In 1999, VAQ-209 received a 96-hour alert to prepare to deploy order for Operation Allied Force (OAF). It deployed with two aircraft, traveling via Lajes Field, Azores, to Aviano Air Base, Italy, on April 17. VAQ-209 provided sole maintenance support for VAQ-209, VAQ-138, and VAQ-140 EA-6Bs, accompanying the aircraft to Lajes and remaining there until April 20 to support follow-on movement of NAS Whidbey Island Prowlers. VAQ-209 entered combat operations on April 17, 1999, and continued until hostilities ended on June 21, 1999. During the operation, the squadron completed 150 combat sorties and over 550 combat flight hours with a 98% sortie completion rate and no injuries. The squadron left for its home station on 25 June 1999, flying through RAF Mildenhall, NAS Keflavik, Sondrestrom Air Base (Greenland), CFB Goose Bay, and NAS Brunswick, and arriving in NAF Washington on June 27, 1999.

In March 2000, the squadron deployed again to Incirlik, with four aircraft to again support Operation Northern Watch. While in Turkey, VAQ-209 aircrew flew 75 combat sorties and over 250 mishap-free flight hours returning to NAF Washington in early May 2000. During 2000, VAQ-209 achieved 23 years and 24,000 hours of mishap-free flying.

In early 2001, the squadron deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (PSAB), for Operation Southern Watch (OSW). This was the first deployment of a reserve EA-6B squadron to that area of operations. VAQ-209 completed the 45-day deployment to PSAB, during which they flew 59 combat sorties and 191 flight hours, with a 100% sortie completion rate.

In August 2002, VAQ-209 deployed for the third time to Incirlik for Operation Northern Watch. This time VAQ-209 flew 88 combat sorties and over 300 flight hours before returning home in October. The squadron went on to set a calendar-year flight record of 1,539.4 flight hours.