The Boeing
EA-18G Growler is an Electronic Attack variant of the
Super Hornet that has the ability to disrupt or jam a range of military
electronics systems, including radars and communications systems.Growler is an
airborne electronic attack (AEA) aircraft which operates from either an
aircraft carrier or from land-bases. The Growler has been developed as a
replacement for the United States Navy EA-6B Prowler aircraft which entered
service in 1971 and is approaching the end of operational life.
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| EA-18 GROWLER |
COCKPIT:
The
two-seat cockpit has the pilot crew station and the electronic warfare
officer's advanced crew station. The advanced crew station ‘s displays
have tactical aircraft moving map
capability (TAMMAC). The aircraft is fitted with a helmet-mounted cueing
system. The HMCS provides 'first look, first shot' high off-bore sight weapons
engagement capability.
The
system enables the pilot to accurately direct or cue the weapons against enemy
aircraft while performing high-g maneuvers. The pilot points his head at the
target and weapons are directed to the target. Aircraft and mission data such
as targeting cues and aircraft performance parameters are displayed directly on
the pilot's visor.
CAPABILITIES:
The
EA-18G's ALQ-218 wideband receiver combined with the ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming
System will be effective against any radar-guided surface-to-air threat. 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. However the current pods will be inadequate against emerging threats. With
its Advanced Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, digital data links and
air-to-air missiles, the EA-18G will have self-protection capability and will
also be effective for target identification and prosecution.
Growler
possesses a communications receiver and jamming system that will provide
suppression and electronic attack against airborne communication threats.
The
advanced tactical radar, the APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA)
radar provides air-to-air and air-to-ground capability with detection,
targeting, tracking and protection modes.
The
interleaved radar modes include real beam-mapping mode and synthetic aperture
radar mode with air-to-air search, air-to-air tracking, sea surface search and
ground moving target indication and tracking. The radar has an advanced
four-channel receiver-exciter which provides wide bandwidth capability and the
ability to generate a wide range of waveforms for electronic warfare,
air-to-air and air-to-ground operation. It also has the ability to operate in
multiple air-to-air and air-to-ground modes simultaneously.
The EA-18G Growler is a separate, but complementary, capability
for the F/A-18F Super Hornet and the future F-35A (Joint Strike Fighter).
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| GROWLER'S CAPACITY |
ARNAMENTS:
The
aircraft is armed with the AIM-120 AMRAAM advanced medium-range air-to-air
missiles and AGM-88 HARM high-speed anti-radiation missiles.
Specifications (EA-18G
Growler)
- Crew : Two
- Height : 16 ft (4.88 m)
- 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 × F414-GE-400 turbofans
- Dry thrust: 14,000 lbf (62.3 kN) each
- Thrust with Afterburner: 22,000 lbf (97.9 kN) each
- Maximum speed : Mach 1.8 at 40,000 ft (12,190 m)
- Range : 1,275 nmi (2,346 km) clean plus two AIM-9s
- Thrust/weight : 0.93
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