EA-18 Growler
| EA-18G Growler | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Electronic warfare |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| Maiden flight | 15 August 2006 |
| Status | Flight testing |
| Primary user | United States Navy |
| Unit cost | US$66 million |
| Developed from | F/A-18F Super Hornet |
The Boeing EA-18G Growler is a carrier-based electronic warfare version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet. It began production in 2007 and is slated for fleet deployment in 2009. The EA-18G will replace the Navy's EA-6B Prowler.
Development
An electronic attack version of the F/A-18F, the EA-18G Growler will replace the Navy's EA-6B Prowler. An F/A-18F "F-1" was re-fitted with ALQ-99 electronic-warfare system, and successfully completed an initial flight demonstration of the EA-18 Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) concept aircraft flight on November 15, 2001.[1]
The first EA-18G test aircraft went into production in October 22, 2004.[2] The EA-18G had a public rollout on August 3, 2006.[3] The first test aircraft, known as EA-1 made its initial flight in St. Louis on August 15, 2006,[4] and ferried to the US Navy's Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland on September 22, 2006. EA-1 primarily supports ground testing in the Air Combat Environment Test and Evaluation Facility (ACETEF) anechoic chamber. The second aircraft, known as EA-2 first flew on November 10, 2006,[5] and was delivered to NAS Patuxent River (Pax River) on November 29, 2006.[6] EA-2 is the primary 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".
In an April 2006 report, the United States Government Accountability Office expressed concerns that because the EA-18G was apparently "not fully following the knowledge-based approach inherent in best practices and DOD's acquisition guidance", the program had an increasing risk of "future cost growth and schedule delays".[7] The report recommends 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".
The U.S Navy has ordered a total of 57 airplanes 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.[8] Full production is to begin in 2008.
The EA-18G is scheduled to finish flight testing in 2008, then earn initial operational capability in 2009.[9] The Navy is planning to buy 90 aircraft in order to equip 10 squadrons.[10]
Design
The Growler has more than 90% in common with the standard Super Hornet, sharing airframe, AESA radar and weapon systems such as the AN/AYK-22 Stores Management System. The 20mm Vulcan cannon is removed from the nose to add additional electronics (and in other parts of the airframe as well), ALQ-218 wingtip receivers are added to the wings, also ALQ-99 high-band and low-band jammers. The jamming equipment and external fuel tanks adds drag, despite such; the EA-18G will have longer range and loiter time over the target area[citation needed].
The EA-18G can be fitted with up to five ALQ-99 tactical jamming pods and will typically add two AIM-120 self-defense missiles and two AGM-88 High Speed Anti-Radiation (HARM) missiles.[11] 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.[12]
EA-18Gs will carry AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles for self-defense, and two AGM-88 HARM missiles, or AGM-88E AARGM (Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided) missiles for destroying enemy radar sites. Boeing is looking into other potential upgrades; the AN/ALQ-99 radar jamming pod might be replaced in the future, and the company is looking into adding weapons and replacing the satellite communications receiver, possibly within the 2007-08 fiscal year if funded.
Operators
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: 500.00 ft² (46.45 m²)
- Empty weight: 30,564 lb (13,864 kg)
- Loaded weight: 47,000 lb (21,320 kg) (in fighter configuration)
- Max takeoff weight: 66,000 lb (29,900 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× General Electric F414-GE-400 turbofans
- Dry thrust: 14,000 lbf (62 kN) each
- Thrust with afterburner: 22,000 lbf (98 kN) each
- *Internal fuel capacity: 14,000 lb (6,350 kg)
- External fuel capacity: (5 x 480 gal tanks): 16,380 lb (7,430 kg)
Performance
- Maximum speed: In excess of Mach 1.8 at high altitude (1,188+ mph)
- Range: 681 mi (1095 km) on hi-hi-hi interdiction mission with 4× 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs, 2× AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, and 2 drop tanks, or 173 miles combat, on 135-minute maritime air superiority mission with 6 AAMs and 3 drop tanks (1,095 km / 278 km)
- Service ceiling: >50,000 ft (15,000 m)
- Wing loading: 92.6 lb/ft² (453 kg/m²)
Armament
- External payload: 9 external weapons stations. The two wingtip LAU-127 launchers for 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 20mm 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.
Avionics
References
- ^ "Boeing Successfully Completes Initial Flight Demonstration of EA-18 Airborne Electronic Attack Variant" Boeing Global Strike Systems, November 15, 2001
- ^ "Boeing Begins Work on First EA-18G Test Aircraft" Boeing Global Strike Systems, October 21, 2004
- ^ "Boeing rolls out first EA-18G Growler" Boeing Global Strike Systems, August 4, 2006
- ^ "Boeing Flies EA-18G Growler for First Time" Boeing Global Strike Systems, August 16, 2006
- ^ Second Boeing EA-18G Growler Takes to the Air
- ^ Boeing Delivers Second EA-18G Growler to U.S. Navy
- ^ "Option of Upgrading Additional EA-6Bs Could Reduce Risk in Development of EA-18G" Government Accountability Office
- ^ Fabey, Michael. "Growler passes Milestone C, goes to low-rate initial production". Aerospace Daily & Defense Report 07/19/2007. (log-in required)
- ^ "Boeing Delivers First Production EA-18G Growler to U.S. Navy", Boeing, September 25, 2007.
- ^ EA-18G Program: The USA's Electronic Growler - EA-18G: The Program
- ^ "Navy Awards Boeing $9.6 Billion in Super Hornet and EA-18G Contracts" Boeing Global Strike Systems, December 29, 2003
- ^ "Boeing EA-18G Program Completes INCANS Verification Testing, Demonstration" Boeing Global Strike Systems, November 8, 2005
External links
- EA-18G Growler on Boeing.com
- EA-18G profile on GlobalSecurity.org
- EA-18G Program: The USA's Electronic Growler on DefenseIndustryDaily.com
Related content
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Designation sequence
| F/A-18 | - F-20 - F-21 - F-22 | |
| F/A-18E/F | ||
| EA-18G |
Related lists
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Fighters: XP-67 · FH · F2H · XF-85 ·
XF-88 · F3H · F-101 · F-110 ·
F-4 · F-15 · F/A-18 · CF-188 ·
YF-23 · F/A-18E/F Attack: AH · AV-8 · F-15E · A-12 · EA-18 Trainers: T-45 Transports: C-9 ·
KC-10 · YC-15 · C-17 Helicopters: XHJH · XH-20 · XHCH · XHRH ·
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