The Boeing EA-18G Growler is an American carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, a specialized version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet. The EA-18G replaced the Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowlers in service with the United States Navy.
The Growler’s electronic warfare capability is primarily provided by Northrop Grumman. The EA-18G began production in 2007 and entered operational service with the US Navy in late 2009. Australia has also purchased twelve EA-18Gs, which entered service with the Royal Australian Air Force in 2017.
Here Why the Boeing EA-18G Growler is the king of electronic warfare?
The EA-18G Growler is the most advanced airborne electronic attack (AEA) platform and is the only one in production today.
A variant of the combat-proven F/A-18F Super Hornet, the Growler provides tactical jamming and electronic protection to U.S. military forces and allies around the world.
The EA-18G Growler measures 18.3m-long and 4.9m-high and features large wings with a span of 13.7m. Its empennage consists of a horizontal stabilizer and two vertical tailfins that are canted outward. The aircraft accommodates two crew members in tandem seat configuration with the pilot in front and electronic warfare officer at the rear.
The military aircraft is fitted with two Northrop Grumman ALQ-218(V)2 wingtip pods with a wideband receiver and selective reactive jamming capability.
Two ALQ-99 low-band and high-band jammer pods manufactured by EDO Corporation are fitted under the wings. The tactical jamming system can intercept, process and jam signals received from enemy radar and communications systems.
Antennae onboard the aircraft include a satellite communications (SATCOM) antenna and communication countermeasures set (CCS) antenna, which transmits signals through the low-band ALQ-99 jammer pod.
The aircraft also features APG-79 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, SATCOM terminal, INterference CANcellation System (INCANS), antenna interface unit (AIU), and a long-baseline interferometer. The INCANS is used to improve situational awareness and communication capability and offers UHF communications capability during ALQ-99 jamming
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