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Northrop Grumman has delivered the 100th set of airborne electronic attack (AEA) components to the US Navy for installation on in-production EA-18G Growlers.
The AEA kit features wing tip pods and gun bay pallets, specialised antennas and receivers, the AN/ALQ-218 antenna/tactical jamming system receiver, and the AN/ALQ-227 communication countermeasures set/electronic attack unit.
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“This delivery milestone demonstrates the dedication of the Northrop Grumman team to the EA-18G Growler program,” Capt Frank Morley, the US Navy’s PMA265 F/A-18 and EA-18G program manager said in a statement. “Every airborne electronic attack subsystem they have produced is of the highest quality, allowing us to stay ahead of current and evolving threats.”
The US Navy has ordered at least 108 EA-18Gs while the RAAF has an additional 12 Growlers on order.
Darren
says:Just wondering if all 12 Growlers for the RAAF will be delivered full spec, or if some will be wired for but not fitted with for training of aircrews. Also wondered about the Squadrons. I have heard all the ‘F’s will go to 1 Sqd, while 6 Sqd will be for the ‘G’s. I had thought that a disbanded squadron may be reformed for the Growlers.
australianaviation.com.au
says:Not sure about squadron numbers yet Darren, although if they were going to resurrect a dedicated squadron to operate the Gs, that probably would’ve happened by now.
At the moment there is a RAAF Super Hornet transition office team in place at NAS Whidbey Island near Seattle learning about how to operate it and planning what the most effective way for the RAAF to support it will be. I have previously written that most of the Gs may be semi-permanently stationed at Whidbey alongside the USN jets, as they already have the support streams in place and plenty of airspace and ranges nearby in which to train, and I haven’t heard any different since.
As far as I’m aware all 12 Gs will be built as dedicated EA-18Gs on the production line. I doubt we’ll buy enough ALQ-99s to be able to operate all aircraft in multiple areas of the spectrum at once. That may change as our EA capability matures and maybe when the NGJ comes online.
Cheers
Andrew
Darren
says:Thanks Andrew