Warplanes: Got Growlers

Archives

May 22, 2007: The U.S. Navy has ordered its first eighteen EA-18G electronic warfare (EW) aircraft, for about $73 million each. The navy received its first F-18F reconfigured as an electronic warfare (EW) aircraft last Fall. This is a specialized warplane that uses electronic detectors and jammers, plus missiles than home in on radars, to clear the way through enemy air defenses for bombers. Officially known as the EA-18G "Growler", they will replace the elderly EA-6B "Prowler." The EA-18G won't enter service until 2009. It will take about two years to build the first EA-18G, which is based on the two seat version of the F-18F.

Five years ago, the navy mounted some EW pods on an F-18F and found that the aircraft performed well in that configuration. The navy plans to buy over 50 EA-18Gs. The elderly EA-6Bs are not expected to last much beyond 2015 (they entered service in 1971). The 29 ton EA-18G will carry up to five electronic warfare pods, plus two AMRAAM air-to-air missiles and two anti-radiation (HARM) missiles. It will probably be the last manned aircraft to handle the EW job. UAVs are becoming more capable, and will eventually take over this dangerous task.

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close