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Product Type: |
Electronic Attack Fighter Aircraft |
Using Service (US): |
Navy |
Program Status: |
In Production |
Prime Contractors: |
Airframe: The Boeing Company
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The Boeing
EA-18G Growler is a tandem two-seat, carrier-based, electronic attack variant
of the F/A-18F Super Hornet strike fighter.
The EA-18G Growler is the first electronic warfare aircraft produced in more than 35 years.
The EA-18G was selected by the U.S. Navy to replace the EA-6B Prowler.
The Growler delivers higher speed, greater maneuverability, more reliability, and reduced operating costs.
The aircraft is powered by two General Electric
F414-GE-400 afterburning turbofan engines,
each providing 22,000 pounds of thrust.
The Boeing Co. and the U.S. Navy signed a five-year System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract on December 29, 2003.
The EA-18G made its maiden flight on August 15, 2006 and the first aircraft was delivered in June 2008 to Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-129
at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. As part of carrier air wings, the EA-18G operates from the Navy's fleet of Nimitz Class
aircraft carriers. A carrier air wing has five EA-18G models or four EA-6Bs.
The Growler's Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) suite provides a cutting-edge selective-reactive and pre-emptive jamming
capability. Nine weapon stations (hardpoints) provide carriage of weapons, AN/ALQ-99 jamming pods, and other stores
to meet the needs for standoff jamming, escort jamming, time critical strike or communications countermeasures.
The AEA communications receiver and jamming system provide electronic suppression and attack against communication threats.
The advanced cockpit, combined with onboard sensors and weapons,
provides a superior Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) capability. The Growler is equipped with a
Raytheon AN/APG-79 Active
Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which offers increased electronic warfare
support and is capable of precision targeting. The EA-18G also features the Northrop Grumman
AN/ALQ-218 Tactical Jamming Receiver, the Raytheon
AN/ALQ-227 Communications Countermeasures System (CCS), the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS), and an Interference Cancellation System (INCANS).
Current plans call for 114 EA-18G Growler aircraft to be delivered to the U.S. Navy.
As of September 2012, 74 EA-18Gs have been delivered. Procurement of the aircraft ends in FY 2013,
when the inventory objective is reached.
On May 3, 2013, Australia announced it will buy 12 EA-18G Growlers, making Australia the only country
other than the United States to purchase the aircraft.
The EA-18G Growler has no main gun but features nine weapon stations (hardpoints) and can carry AIM-120 AMRAAM, AGM-88 HARM/AARGM, and AN/ALQ-99 Low Band Jamming Pods. For more detail, see specifications below.
In 2012, the unit cost of an EA-18G is $68.2 million (flyaway cost) or $86.5 million incl. support costs. The airframe costs $37.23 million, the two F414-GE-400 engines cost $8.42 million ($4.21 million each), and the avionics cost $18.72 million.
The total procurement cost of the EA-18G program is estimated at $9.18 billion + $1.85 billion in research and development (RDT&E) funds, which means the total estimated program cost is $11.03 billion (numbers are aggregated annual funds spent over the life of the program and no price/inflation adjustment was made). This figure excludes military construction (MILCON) costs in support of the program in the amount of $24 million.
The EA-18G provides one of the most flexible offensive electronic warfare capabilities available across the spectrum of conflict from irregular warfare to major contingency operations. The EA-18G supports naval, joint, and coalition strike aircraft, providing radar and communications jamming and kinetic effects to increase the survivability and lethality of all strike aircraft. The EA-18G can operate autonomously or as a major node in a network centric operation. The EA-18G's electronic suite can both detect, identify, and locate emitters + suppress hostile emitters through jamming and kinetic effects.
Funds 12 EA-18G aircraft, associated spares, and provides advance procurement funding for 12 FY 2013 aircraft. FY12 Continues the research, development, and testing of electronic systems and techniques. The aircraft are required to recapitalize the four Navy expeditionary EA-6B squadrons that had been planned to disband by the end of FY 2012.
Supports the purchase of 12 EA-18G Growler aircraft and associated spares. This is the fourth year of a multiyear procurement. Also supports the development and testing of EA-18G Growler electronic systems and techniques. For more information, click to see the Complete FY 2013 EA-18G Budget.
Source: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), The Boeing Company, Raytheon,
Northrop Grumman, and General Electric Co.
Last Update: May 3, 2013.
By Joakim Kasper Oestergaard /// (jkasper@bga-aeroweb.com)
Boeing's EA-18G Site: Boeing EA-18G Growler
GE Aviation: F414-GE-400 Turbofan Engine
Raytheon: AN/APG-79 AESA radar
Northrop Grumman: AN/ALQ-218 Tactical Jamming Receiver
Cobham: AN/ALQ-99 Low Band Jamming Pod
YouTube: Boeing EA-18G Growler on YouTube
Fact Sheet: Boeing EA-18G Growler
Product Card: Boeing EA-18G Growler
Total EA-18G Program Cost: |
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$11.03 billion ($9.18B procurement + $1.85B RDT&E) |
EA-18G U.S. Defense Budget Charts: |
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| Purchases of EA-18G Aircraft (NAVY) | Modification of EA-18G and F/A-18 Aircraft (NAVY) | |
| Aircraft Spares and Parts (NAVY) |
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Primary Function: Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) |
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