USN Demos EA-18G Growlers Visit in Australia

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today welcomed five United States Navy (USN) EA-18G Growler aircraft to RAAF Base Amberley.

In August, the Government announced that it had decided to acquire the Growler electronic warfare capability for the Super Hornet at a cost of around $1.5 billion.

The Growler is a specialised version of the Super Hornet. The Growler electronic warfare aircraft was used very effectively by the United States Navy during air operations in Libya last year.

The United States Navy are regular visitors to Australian as part of longstanding aircraft cooperation arrangements between Australia and the United States. This however is the first time EA-18G Growler aircraft have visited Australia.

The Growler capability will provide Australia with an ability to disrupt or jam a range of military electronics systems, including radars and communications systems.

Electronic threats are an inherent part of modern combat and Growler will provide options for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to undertake electronic threat suppression operations in support of Australian Defence Force (ADF) operations.

The Growler capability can also undertake intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

The USN EA-18G Growler visit will allow Australia to learn more about how the capability works alongside our F/A-18F Super Hornets.

The Growlers will undertake training flights and simulation activities while in Australia, alongside Australian F/A-18F Super Hornets.


Source: Australian Department of Defence News - 05 October 2012

Photo: The United States Navy (USN) EA-18G Growler Aircraft

WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. (April 9, 2007) - An EA-18G Growler lands at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island for the first time. The Growler is being developed to replace the fleet's current carrier-based EA-6B Prowler. The next-generation electronic attack aircraft for the U.S. Navy, combines the combat-proven F/A-18 Super Hornet with state-of-the-art electronic warfare avionics. The EA-18G is expected to enter initial operational capability in 2009. Note: Image is cropped from original version linked in source line above. (Photo by wikipedia)


(5.10.2012)