Boeing and the U.S Navy formally presented the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) its first EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft, o...
Boeing and the U.S Navy formally presented the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) its first EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft, on July 30, which completed maiden flight on July 13, at a ceremony in St Louis in the United States.
A derivative of the F/A-18 Super Hornet, EA-18G is the only aircraft in production providing tactical jamming and electronic protection. Australia is the first export country of the aircraft.
The Growlers will enhance the RAAF’s current fleet – which includes 24 Super Hornets – and advance ‘Plan Jericho,’ an initiative to transform the RAAF into an integrated, networked force able to deliver air power in all operating environments.
The Growler will fly to Naval Air Station China Lake, California. for flight testing and then Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington., where RAAF operators will continue training with U.S. Navy pilots to gain expertise in the highly technical electronic warfare mission. The RAAF is expected to take delivery of the aircraft in-country in 2017.
In June 2014, Boeing was awarded the contract for 12 Growlers to be acquired by the RAAF under a foreign military sales agreement with the U.S. Navy. For more than eight decades, Australia has collaborated with Boeing and its heritage companies on defense capability development, acquisition and support.
The nation currently flies Boeing aircraft that include the E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control, C-17 Globemaster III and CH-47F Chinook, in addition to the Hornet and Super Hornet. Boeing Defence Australia provides lifecycle sustainment services for the RAAF’s Super Hornets, C-17s, Wedgetails and other Boeing and non-Boeing platforms, and is a leading provider of complex network solutions for the Australian Defence Force.
The second RAAF Growler has also made its first flight, while the following 10 aircraft are in various stages of assembly at Boeing’s St Louis plant. On current plans, all 12 aircraft will arrive in Australia by the end of 2017.
