Australia begins receiving Growlers

[Zarvan]

The maiden flight of the first RAAF EA-16G Growler. Source: Boeing
Key Points

• The RAAF on 29 July received its first EA-18G Growler during a rollout ceremony
• Australia is the first and only international customer for the electronic attack aircraft

Boeing rolled out the first Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Growlers on 29 July during a ceremony at the company's St Louis facility, making Australia the first country outside the US to obtain the airborne electronic attack (AEA) aircraft.

The RAAF wants the capability to maintain an edge over regional adversaries, according to Air Marshal Geoffrey Brown, the RAAF's former chief. "We will always pursue a technological edge over any regional competitor," he said during the ceremony.

A derivative of the F/A-18F Super Hornet, the EA-18G provides tactical jamming and electronic protection. The 12 Growlers ordered for about USD3 billion will enhance the RAAF's fleet of 24 Super Hornets.

The Growlers will now fly to Naval Air Station China Lake in California for flight testing and then Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington, where RAAF pilots will continue training with the US Navy (USN). The RAAF is expected to take delivery of the aircraft in-country in 2017.

There are no other plans to sell the aircraft to other international customers at this time, according to Rear Admiral Donald Gaddis, the USN's Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft Programs. Adm Gaddis noted during the ceremony that the Growler provides Australia with a capability currently unique to the US. "The RAAF is starting to look a lot like the US Navy," he said. He added that the allies will be able to operate together more easily in a "very important part of the world".

Australia requested the 12 EA-18G Growlers and 12 additional Super Hornets in 2014. Initial operational capability (IOC) for the Growlers is scheduled for mid-2018 and full operating capability (FOC) is anticipated for the early 2020s.

Meanwhile, unless Boeing receives more orders for either aircraft, the Super Hornet/Growler production line will close at the end of 2017, said Dan Gillian, the company's programme manager. Boeing is currently reducing the build rate from four aircraft to three aircraft per month, he added. The company is negotiating a contract with the USN for 15 additional EA-18Gs added in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 budget and 15 Super Hornets in the FY 2016 budget.

Boeing is also negotiating with a customer in the Middle East, which IHS Jane's understands to be Kuwait, for between 24 and 36 Super Hornets.

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Australia begins receiving Growlers - IHS Jane's 360

 

[posedion]

This machine can fry lot of electronics