Boeing EA-18G Growler
| EA-18G Growler | |
|---|---|
 | |
| An EA-18G Growler of VX-31 overflies Ridgecrest, California as it returns to NAWS China Lake at the conclusion of a test mission | |
| Role | Electronic warfare |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| First flight | 15 August 2006 |
| Introduction | 22 September 2009[1] |
| Status | In production, in service |
| Primary user | United States Navy |
| Number built | 96[citation needed] |
| Unit cost | US$67 million (flyaway cost, FY2011)[2] |
| Developed from | Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet |
Development
Requirement and testing
The first EA-18G test aircraft entered production in 22 October 2004.[6] The first test aircraft, known as EA-1, was rolled out on 3 August 2006, before making its maiden flight at St. Louis on 15 August 2006; it was later ferried to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland on 22 September 2006.[7][8] EA-1 primarily supports ground testing in the Air Combat Environment Test and Evaluation Facility (ACETEF) anechoic chamber.
The second aircraft (EA-2) first flew on 10 November 2006,[9] and was delivered to NAS Patuxent River on 29 November 2006.[10] EA-2 is an AEA flight test aircraft, initially flying on Pax River's Atlantic Test Range (ATR) for developmental test of the AEA system before transitioning to the Electronic Combat Range (ECR, or 'Echo Range') in Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California. Both aircraft are assigned to VX-23 "Salty Dogs". EA-1 and EA-2 are F/A-18Fs F-134 and F-135, pulled from the St. Louis production line and modified by Boeing to the EA-18G configuration. However, since they were not built initially as Growlers, the Navy has designated these two test aircraft as NEA-18Gs.[11] There were five Growlers flying in the flight test program as of June 2008.[12]
Procurement
In an April 2006 report, the U.S. Government Accountability Office expressed concerns. The GAO felt the electronic warfare systems on the EA-18G were not fully mature so there is risk of "future cost growth and schedule delays". The report recommended that the DOD consider purchasing additional ICAP III upgrades for EA-6Bs to fill any current and near-term capability gaps and restructure the initial EA-18G production plans so that procurement takes place after the aircraft has "demonstrated full functionality".[13] In a 2008 GAO report, the director of the DoD's Operational Test and Evaluation department questioned the workload on the two-person Growler crew to replace the Prowler's crew of four.[14]The U.S Navy has ordered a total of 57 aircraft to replace its existing EA-6B Prowlers in service, all of which will be based at NAS Whidbey Island save for Reserve Squadron VAQ-209 based at NAF Washington, MD. The US DoD gave approval for the EA-18G program to begin low-rate initial production in 2007.[15] The EA-18G was scheduled to finish flight testing in 2008.[16] The Navy planned to buy approximately 85 aircraft in 2008.[17] Approval for full-rate production was expected in the third quarter of 2009,[18] and was given on 23 November 2009. Boeing will ramp up production to 20 aircraft per year.[19] On 9 July 2009, General James Cartwright told the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services that the choice had been to continue the F/A-18 production line because the war fighting commanders needed more aerial electronic warfare capability that only the EA-18G could provide.[20]
The Navy's submission for the 2011 defense budget put forth by the Obama Administration calls for the addition of four EA-18G Growler squadrons to be added to the fleet.[21] On 14 May 2010, Boeing and the US Department of Defense reached an agreement for a multi-year contract for an additional 66 F/A-18E/Fs and 58 EA-18Gs over the next four years. This will raise the total to 114 EA-18Gs on order.[22]
The Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation determined that the EA-18G was "still not operationally suitable" in February 2011. Prime contractor Boeing is working to address issues with software updates.[23]
Design
The Growler has more than 90% in common with the standard Super Hornet, sharing airframe, Raytheon AN/APG-79 AESA radar and weapon systems such as the AN/AYK-22 Stores Management System. Most of the dedicated airborne electronic attack equipment is mounted in the space that used to house the internal 20 mm cannon and on the wingtips. Nine weapons stations remain free to provide for additional weapons or jamming pods.[26] The added electronics include AN/ALQ-218 wideband receivers on the wingtips, and ALQ-99 high and low-band tactical jamming pods. The ALQ-218 combined with the ALQ-99 form a full spectrum electronic warfare suite that is able to provide detection and jamming against all known surface-to-air threats.[24]
The EA-18G can be fitted with up to five ALQ-99 jamming pods and will typically add two AIM-120 AMRAAM or AGM-88 HARM missiles.[27] The EA-18G will also use the INCANS Interference Cancellation system that will allow voice communication while jamming enemy communications, a capability not available on the EA-6B.[28] In addition to the radar warning and jamming equipment the Growler possesses a communications receiver and jamming system that will provide suppression and electronic attack against airborne communication threats.[26]
The poor reliability of the ALQ-99 and frequent failures of the built-in self-test (BIT) have caused crew to fly missions with real faults. The ALQ-99 has also interfered with the aircraft's AESA radar, and has imposed a high workload on the two man crew, along with reducing the Growler's top speed.[29]
Boeing is looking into other potential upgrades; the ALQ-99 radar jamming pod may be replaced in the future, and the company is looking into adding weapons and replacing the satellite communications receiver. The Growler is the initial platform for the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) which uses Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology to focus jamming power exactly where needed. The NGJ will also be implemented on the F-35.[30] Boeing is also looking at exporting a Growler Lite configuration without the jamming pods for electronic awareness rather than electronic attack.[31]
Operational history
United States
The first Growler for fleet use was officially accepted by VAQ-129 "Vikings" at NAS Whidbey Island, on 3 June 2008.[17] The Navy planned to buy approximately 85 aircraft to equip 11 squadrons as of 2008.[17] The EA-18G completed operational evaluation in late July 2009. The Growler was rated operationally effective and suitable for operational use.[18][32] On 5 August 2009, EA-18G Growlers from Electronic Attack Squadron 129 (VAQ-129) and Electronic Attack Squadron 132 (VAQ-132) completed their first at-sea carrier-arrested landing (trap) aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75).[33] The first deployable EA-18G squadron is to be VAQ-132 "Scorpions", which reached operational status in October 2009.[34] The first Growler operational deployment was announced on 17 February 2011.[35]
In service, the EA-18's radio name during flight operations will be "Grizzly". The "Growler" nickname sounded too much like the EA-6B's "Prowler" name, so "Grizzly" will be used to avoid confusion.[36] With the termination of the EB-52H standoff jammer, the Growler will become the sole remaining manned tactical jammer and Air Staff requirements director Maj. Gen. David Scott has indicated that the USAF will seek to provide electronic warfare officers to fly on US Navy Growlers, without providing funding to purchase additional aircraft.[37] By May 2011, 48 Growlers had been delivered to the U.S. Navy.[26]
The EA-18G was first used in combat during Operation Odyssey Dawn, enforcing the UN no-fly zone over Libya.[38] The five EA-18Gs of VAQ-132 were redeployed from Iraq to Italy to support Libya operations.[39]
Australia
In 2008 the Australian Government requested export approval from the US government to purchase up to six EA-18Gs,[40] which would be part of the order for 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets.[41] On 27 February 2009, Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon announced that 12 of the 24 Super Hornets on order would be wired on the production line for future fit-out as EA-18Gs. The additional wiring would cost A$35 million. The final decision on conversion to EA-18Gs, at a cost of A$300 million, would be made in 2012.[42]Operators
- United States Air Force
- 390th Electronic Combat Squadron provides electronic warfare officers for Navy units.[44]
Specifications (EA-18G Growler)
General characteristics- Crew: Two
- Length: 60 ft 1.25 in (18.31 m)
- Wingspan: 44 ft 8.5 in (13.62 m) (including wingtip-mounted pods)
- Height: 16 ft (4.88 m)
- Wing area: 500 ft² (46.5 m²)
- Empty weight: 33,094 lb (15,011 kg)
- Loaded weight: 48,000 lb (21,772 kg) (recovery weight)
- Max takeoff weight: 66,000 lb (29,964 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × General Electric F414-GE-400 turbofans
- Dry thrust: 14,000 lbf (62.3 kN) each
- Thrust with afterburner: 22,000 lbf (97.9 kN) each
- Internal fuel capacity: 13,940 lb (6,323 kg)
- External fuel capacity: (3 x 480 gal tanks): 9,774 lb (4,420 kg)
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.8[46] (1,190 mph, 1,900 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m)
- Range: 1,275 nmi (2,346 km) clean plus two AIM-9s[46]
- Combat radius: 390 nmi (449 mi, 722 km) for interdiction mission[47]
- Ferry range: 1,800 nmi (2,070 mi, 3,330 km) (range without ordnance)
- Service ceiling: >50,000 ft (15,000 m)
- Wing loading: 92.8 lb/ft² (453 kg/m²)
- Thrust/weight: 0.93
- Guns: None
- Hardpoints: 9 total: 6× under-wing, and 3× under-fuselage with a capacity of 17,750 lb (8,050 kg) external fuel and ordnance
- Notes: The two wingtips missile launcher rail for AIM-9 Sidewinder, found on the E/F Super Hornet, have been replaced with AN/ALQ-218 detection pods, 6 removable under wing mounted hard points (inboard pylons will carry 480 gal fuel tanks, mid-board pylons will carry AN/ALQ-99 High Band Jamming Pods, and outboard pylon reserved for AGM-88 HARM missiles), 2 multi-mode conformal fuselage stations (AIM-120 AMRAAM), 1 centerline fuselage removable hardpoint, for AN/ALQ-99 Low Band Jamming Pod.
- Weapons employment: Currently, Phase I of the Growler will carry the AIM-120 AMRAAM for self-protection at the two conformal fuselage stations and AGM-88 HARM missiles. The 20 mm M61A1 cannon has been removed and replaced by a pod of electronic boxes that control the AN/ALQ-218 and assist with the coordination AN/ALQ-99 jamming attacks.
- According to the possible weapon configurations which were revealed, EA-18G would also be capable of performing "time-sensitive" strike missions, carrying AGM-154 JSOW under wings, or multi-sensor reconnaissance missions with SHARP and AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR on centerline and left conformal weapon stations, respectively.
- Raytheon AN/APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar
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