Boeing EA-18

Boeing EA-18 growler
Test flight of an EA-18G Growler
Type:	EloKa - fighter aircraft
Design country:	United States
Manufacturer:	Boeing
First flight:	August 15, 2006
Commissioning:	September 22, 2009
Production time:	In series production since 2007

The Boeing EA-18 Growler is an electronic warfare fighter based on the F / A-18F Super Hornet multi -role fighter . It replaced the Grumman EA-6 Prowler in the US Navy .

Although the machines are officially known as the Growler , the staff often refer to them as Grizzly in order to avoid confusion with the predecessor Prowler .

description

When the service life of the EA-6B Prowler , at that time the only dedicated EloKa platform of the US Navy, came to an end, the search for a suitable replacement began in 2000. The F / A-18F Super Hornet proved to be the optimal solution early on , as only minor modifications were necessary, which was particularly important due to the high time pressure. In addition, existing spare parts stores and maintenance processes can be used, which results in considerable cost savings. Boeing held the first studies for such a variant as early as 1993. In the spring of 2000, the first attempts at loading the ALQ-99 disruptive containers were made. On November 15, 2001, an F / A-18F flew for the first time with jamming containers in St. Louis, with further F / A-18Fs later being used as test vehicles in the tests. In September 2002, the Navy then formally requested the development of the new Growler based on the two-seat F / A-18F Block II. On December 29, 2003, the development contract worth $ 979 million was signed. In October 2004 the assembly of the first prototype began, in 2005 the design work was completed and on August 15, 2006 the first EA-18G took off on its maiden flight. The first test phase was completed in April 2007 and pre-series production was approved in July of the same year. The maiden flight of the first series aircraft took place on September 10, 2007, and in June 2008 the first aircraft was handed over to a task force. Series production of the EA-18G began in December 2009 and is scheduled to run until 2013. 14 machines had been delivered by the end of 2009.

An EA-18G Growler with AN / ALQ-99/218 jamming systems and two additional drop tanks

The jamming systems with a total of 66 antennas are based in part on the status of the ICAP III modernization, which is intended for the Prowler . The core is formed by the three strong AN / ALQ-99 distance interference systems, with the two nacelles mounted under the wings responsible for a high frequency range (1-20 GHz), while the nacelle under the fuselage interferes with low-frequency radar devices (0.064-1 GHz) ) ensures. In extreme cases, up to five ALQ-99 systems can be used by the EA-18G. The AN / ALQ-218 (V) 2 , the hardware of which is largely located in two containers on the wing tips, uses a complex antenna system to provide the geodata required for precise focusing of the interference pulses from the ALQ-99 can interfere with even radars to a limited extent In order to be able to disrupt enemy communication systems, the M61 Vulcan on- board cannon was removed and the Communication Countermeasure Set AN / ALQ-227 installed. The AN / APG-79 on- board radar is also integrated into the concept. It is supposed to locate enemy radar systems with frequencies from 8 to 12 GHz with high precision and to disrupt them in a targeted manner. The AESA technology used enables very powerful EloKa applications, but the range of action is limited to the front 120 ° sector. The Interference Cancellation System (INCANS), in turn, coordinates the communication facilities so that they can work without interference even when using the EloGM systems , which enables the crew to be much more aware of the situation . In addition, the rear cockpit for the EloKa officer is now equipped with a 20 × 23 cm MFD , a touchscreen LCD for the on-board systems and two multi-purpose displays (each 13 cm²). In addition to the active jamming systems, two AGM-88 HARMs can also be carried on SEAD missions , although other weapons such as the AGM-154 are also to be scaffolded in the future. For self-protection against enemy fighters, two AIM-9 Sidewinder or AIM-120 AMRAAM and one AN / ALR-67 (V3) are available for countermeasures. The maximum landing mass on aircraft carriers is 21,320 kg, with a landing speed of 263 km / h.

The Navy planned the acquisition of 88 machines, initially only 57 machines were firmly ordered from Boeing (56 series plus one test machine), with all aircraft being housed on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island . The first machine was delivered to the US Navy in Patuxent River on September 22, 2006 for a five-month test program in a measuring chamber (aechoic chamber). In this shielded chamber, extensive EloKa tests can be carried out realistically on a static test bench. The Growler is mostly built on the Super Hornet's production lines and only gets most of its specific equipment at the end of the production process. Around 300 additional cable bundles are built into the airframe. In May 2010, the Pentagon ordered 124 more Super Hornets , 58 of which were Growlers . This increases the total fleet size to 114 aircraft.

Australia, as the operator of the F / A-18, wanted to order six EA-18G growlers at the beginning of 2008 , whereby the export business must be approved by the US legislature before it can be carried out. Instead of placing an order, however, it was decided in 2012 to convert twelve of the 24 F / A-18s to E / A-18s, with the United States Navy supplying the jammers. However, this decision was revised in May 2013 to the effect that it is now planned to procure 12 new EA-18Gs (supply from 2017) and to continue to operate the existing 24 Super Hornets unchanged.

After the EA-18G Growler achieved the status " Initial Operating Capability " on September 22nd, 2009 , the " Full Operational Capability " followed on February 17th 2011 . The machines were first deployed in 2011 over Libya as part of Operation Odyssey Dawn .

The EA-18G Growler is being discussed by the German Air Force as a possible successor to the tornado .

Technical specifications

Rollout of the EA-18G on August 3, 2006 in front of an invited audience

Parameter	EA-18G Growler data
crew	2 (pilot and weapons systems officer)
length	18.32 m
span	13.63 m 9.32 m (folded up)
height	4.88 m
Wing area	46.45 m²
Wing loading	minimum (empty weight): 323 kg / m² nominal (normal take-off weight): 507 kg / m² maximum (max. takeoff weight): 645 kg / m²
Empty mass	15,010 kg
Max. Gun load	6,215 kg
normal takeoff mass	23,541 kg
Max. Takeoff mass	29,964 kg
Max. Fuel capacity	6.325 kg (internal) 4,425 kg (external)
Top speed	> Mach 1.8 (at optimal height)
Service ceiling	15,240 m
Use radius	722 km (with two AGM-88 HARM ) 1,020 km (without additional AGM-88 HARM)
Range	3,330 km (with additional tanks)
Engine	two General Electric F414- GE-400 turbofan engines
Thrust	with afterburner: 2 × 97.86 kN without afterburner: 2 × 63.47 kN
Thrust-to-weight ratio	maximum (empty weight): 1.33 nominal (normal takeoff mass): 0.85 minimum (max. takeoff weight): 0.67
Unit price	$ 73 million

Weapon loading (armament)

Ordnance up to 6,215 kg at nine external suspension stations under the two wings and the fuselage

Air-to-air guided missile

• 4 × LAU-127A / A start rails for 1 × Raytheon AIM-9X "Sidewinder" each - infrared controlled, self-aiming for short distances
• 4 × LAU-127A / A start rails for 1 × MBDA AIM-132 "ASRAAM" each - infrared -controlled , self-targeting for short distances
• 4 × LAU-127A / A start rails for 1 × Raytheon AIM-120-C5 "AMRAAM" each - radar-controlled, semi-active for medium -haul routes
• 2 × LAU-116 starter brackets for 1 × Raytheon AIM-120-C5 "AMRAAM" each - radar-controlled, semi-active for medium -haul routes

Air-to-ground guided missiles

• 4 × LAU-118 launch rails for 1 × Texas Instruments AGM-88A / B "HARM" each - self-targeting anti-radar missile
• 4 × AGM-84H SLAM-ER
• 4 × AGM-154 JSOW
• 4 × AGM-158 JASSM

Guided bombs

• 4 × BRU-42 TER (Triple Ejection Rack) each with 2 × GBU-12B / C / D "Paveway II" (laser-guided 227 kg / 500 lb glide bomb)
• 4 × BRU-42 TER (Triple Ejection Rack) each with 2 × GBU-38 "JDAM" (GPS-guided 227 kg / 500 lb bomb)

Unguided bombs

• 2 × B61 (tactical 10-340 kT atomic bomb)

External container

• 5 × AN / ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System (TJS) EKF jamming container
• 2 × AN / ALQ-218 Tactical Jamming System Receiver (TJSR) EKF reconnaissance and jamming container
• 2 × AN / ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) EKF jamming container
• 1 × Raytheon AN / ASQ-228 ATFLIR target light container
• 1 × Northrop Grumman AN / AAQ-28 (V) Generation IV target light container
• 3 × drop-off additional tanks for 1,800 liters (480 US gallons) of kerosene
• 3 × drop-off additional tanks for 1,200 liters (330 US gallons) of kerosene
• 1 × air refueling tank

Users

•  Australia : 11
•  United States : 114 (2016), 160 ordered in total

Web links

Commons : Boeing EA-18G Growler  - collection of images

• Boeing.com (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ New ops nickname for EA-18G. NavyTimes, June 8, 2009, accessed May 1, 2011 . 
2. ↑ FlugRevue November 2008, pp. 42–46, Störer mit Biss - Boeing EA-18G Growler for the US Navy
3. ↑ ^{a b} Aviation Week & Space Technology; November 22, 2009, Vol. 171 Issue 19, pp. 48-50.
4. ^ Teeth of the Growler . Avionics Magazine, March 1, 2008, accessed May 1, 2011 . 
5. ↑ US DoD agrees to buy 124 F / A-18E / Fs and EA-18Gs over 4 years. Flight International, May 14, 2010, accessed May 1, 2011 . 
6. ↑ Australia expands P-3 upgrade, plays down Growler reports. Flight International, August 22, 2008, accessed May 1, 2011 . 
7. ↑ Dave Majumdar: US Navy to supply Australia with refurbished jammers for EA-18Gs. Flightglobal.com, August 24, 2012, accessed August 24, 2012 . 
8. ↑ RAAF procures 12 EA-18G ( Memento from June 4, 2014 in the Internet Archive )
9. ^ Greg Waldron: US clears $ 1.5b support deal for RAAF Super Hornets, Growlers. In: Flightglobal.com. April 29, 2015, archived from the original on July 7, 2015 ; accessed on April 29, 2015 . 
10. ↑ Armaments: France and Germany argue about jet fighter . In: Spiegel Online . November 29, 2019 ( spiegel.de [accessed December 31, 2019]).
11. ^ Growler full fleet arrive in Australia. In: Australian Government - Department of Defense. July 7, 2017, accessed August 16, 2017 . 
12. ↑ RAAF warplane's engine 'destroyed itself' during attempted take-off, Resulting in $ 120 million fire - Politics - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). www.abc.net.au, accessed April 20, 2020 (English). 
13. ↑ Andrea Shalal: Boeing, US Navy in talks about stretching EA-18G jet production. In: Yahoo Finance. December 19, 2014, accessed August 16, 2017 . 
14. ↑ James Drew: USN Growler order complete as Boeing seeks F / A-18 orders. In: FlightGlobal. October 29, 2015, accessed on August 16, 2017 . 
15. ^ Ryan Maass: US Navy orders 12 new fighter aircraft from Boeing. In: United Press International. February 28, 2017, accessed August 16, 2017 . 
16. ↑ USN (Ed.): Selected Acquisition Report (SAR) . March 17, 2016 (American English, whs.mil [PDF; accessed April 20, 2020]).