The EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack (AEA) aircraft

August 5, 2006 Attack aircraft will do more than just shoot bullets and missiles in the future battlespace. With networked systems and information availability critical to a cohesive battle plan, electronic attack will be even more important than physical attack. The U.S. armed forces' newest airborne electronic attack aircraft, the EA-18G Growler had its public “coming out” ceremony yesterday, being presented to a crowd of more than 750 U.S. Navy customers and industry partners during a ceremony at Boeing’s Integrated Defense Systems facilities in St. Louis. The EA-18 Growler combines the combat-proven F/A-18 Super Hornet with a state-of-the-art electronic warfare avionics suite and is being developed to replace the fleet's current carrier-based EA-6B Prowler. Capable of Mach 1.8, the Growler is packed with state-of-the-art electronic warfare systems to jam enemy electronic systems and provide electronic suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD). The Growler is also capable electronic emissions detection, classification and monitoring. A derivative of the combat-proven, two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet, the EA-18G's highly flexible design enables warfighters to perform an array of airborne electronic attack (AEA) missions, operating from either the deck of an aircraft carrier or land-based fields. The EA-18G integrates the capabilities of the most advanced AEA system, designed and produced by the Northrop Grumman Corporation, which recently completed tests on the EA-6B, with the advanced weapons, sensors and communications systems found on the Super Hornet. The EA-18G is expected to enter initial operational capability in 2009.

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