Boeing Unveils Pioneering EA-18G Growler for Navy Enhancement Initiative
Boeing [NYSE: BA] has initiated a five-year enhancement initiative for the U.S. Navy’s EA-18G Growler fleet, commencing with the first aircraft at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
The enhancements aim to refresh the jets’ structural and mission systems framework, allowing for future capability advancements for the Navy’s 160 Growler aircraft. Growlers play a vital role in disrupting radar and communication signals of adversarial forces, hindering their capability to identify and monitor U.S. and allied military units.
“We’re thrilled to have the Growler industry team collaborating on features that will provide the fleet with improved electronic surveillance, enhanced data links, and the ability to carry the Next Generation Jammer pod,” remarked Capt. Chris “Needles” Bahner, commander of the Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet. “We anticipate a productive partnership with PMA-265 and PMA-234 at Naval Air Systems Command alongside the Growler industry team in this vital endeavor.”
Following contract awards in October 2020 and February 2021 for materials and labor, the enhancement tasks encompass various upgrades for the Growler’s mission systems. The aircraft’s ALQ-218 receiver system will undergo the Airborne Electronic Attack System Enhancements modification, allowing the Growler to function in progressively complex electromagnetic conditions.
Further enhancements will broaden the Growler’s information conduit for quicker and more secure data transmission to other aircraft and platforms, significantly boosting data processing speeds. Boeing will also prepare the Growler for the Next Generation Jammer, which greatly enhances its electronic attack capabilities.
“As the world’s leading electronic attack platform, we’re launching this program for the EA-18G Growler in a strong collaboration with the Navy,” stated Mark Sears, Boeing vice president of Fighters & Strike Product Support. “These enhancements will equip it to tackle the challenges of today and those in the future.”
The program timeline anticipates that all Navy Growlers will be modified within five years, with full-rate modifications expected to commence in June 2021. Boeing has positioned personnel on-site at Whidbey, adhering to state, local, customer, and corporate COVID protocols, to ensure the program is comprehensively staffed to support the workflow.
Boeing stands as the world’s largest aerospace enterprise and a leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense systems, space and security solutions, and global services. As a major U.S. exporter, the corporation supports both commercial and governmental clients in over 150 nations. Building on a legacy of aerospace excellence, Boeing remains at the forefront of technological innovation, consistently delivering for its customers while investing in its workforce and future developments.
