First Australian Growler pilot starts training at Whidbey Island

The Royal Australian Air Force's first EA-18G Growler pilot instructor has commenced flying on the type in the United States. The training is being conducted with the Electronic Attack Wing of the US Pacific Fleet at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

Over the next three years, six RAAF crews (comprised one pilot and one electronic warfare officer) will learn to fly the Growler with the US Navy’s VAQ-129, with assistance from the US Program Management Office (PMA-265) at Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, Maryland.

Australia has 12 new-build EA-18G Growler Electronic Attack Aircraft on order. It had originally intended to convert 12 of it's current fleet of F/A-18F Super Hornets (pictured above) into Growlers.

Australia confirms acquisition of 12 EA-18G Growlers, recommits to F-35

Click for hi-res. © Commonwealth of Australia

Confirming earlier reports, Australia has confirmed that it will acquire 12 new-build Boeing EA-18G Growler Electronic Attack aircraft in its Defence White Paper released today. (see P.77 and 88 of the White Paper). The Royal Australian Air Force's current fleet of 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets will retain their current configuration.

Australia has also reaffirmed its commitment to the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program, and expects to induct 3 operational squadrons of F-35s from 2020 to replace its current fleet of F/A-18A/B Hornets(P.88 of the White Paper). A decision on whether to replace the existing RAAF Super Hornets with more F-35s will be made closer to 2030.

U.S. Navy Growlers visit Australia

© Commonwealth of Australia

For the first time, three U.S Navy (USN) EA-18G Growler Electronic Attack aircraft have visited Australia. The Growlers, from the Scorpions of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 132 are visiting RAAF Base Amberley for Exercise Growler 2012. The visit and exercise will allow Australia to learn more about how the capability works. While in Australia, the VAQ-132 aircraft will be undertaking training flights and simulation activities alongside Australian F/A-18F Super Hornets.

VAQ-132 is currently temporarily deployed to Misawa, Japan from its permanent station at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island for six months beginning in this July. In an announcement made early in September, Australia is to acquire the Growler electronic warfare capability for a number of its fleet of F/A-18F Super Hornets.

See more photos of the VAQ-132's visit to Australia at Australian Defence Force Image Gallery

Australia confirms conversion of 12 Super Hornets into Growlers

Click for high resolution graphic. © Commonwealth of Australia

In a media release, Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith has confirmed that Australia has decided to acquire the Growler electronic warfare system for the Super Hornet. The total cost of will be around A$1.5 billion, with the aircraft expected to be operational from 2018

Australian Growlers to use borrowed jamming pods?

Ignore the sensationalist headline in this Canberra Times article, but it also mentions that if Australia were to go ahead with the decision to convert twelve of it's Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets in E/A-18G Growlers, the RAAF will not purchase the ALQ-99 jamming pods, but instead will be required to obtain them from the United States Navy's inventory whenever Australia wanted them. The US would retain absolute control over the RAAF's use of the Growler technology.

Scorpions deploy Growlers to Japan

The Scorpions of the U.S. Navy's Electronic Warfare Squadron (VAQ) 132 have arrived at Misawa in northern Japan for a six-month deployment with their Boeing E/A-18G Growler Electronic Attack aircraft. The unit will undertake a six-month deployment in support of U.S. 7th Fleet and will integrate with existing U.S. and coalition forces.

It was not stated how many aircraft are taking part in the deployment, but other online sources in Japan list five aircraft as having arrived in Misawa.

DSCA Notification for sale of EA-18G Growler Modification Kits - Australia

The United States' Defense Security and Cooperation Agency has notified Congress of a possible sale of modification kits to convert 12 of Australia's Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets into EA-18G Growler Electronic Attack Aircraft [PDF document]. Australia has indicated an interest in doing so for some time, having wired up 12 of its aircraft for such a conversion even as the aircraft were being built by Boeing, and with Australia having purchased long-lead items for such a conversion some months back.

According to the DSCA release, the total value of the conversion package is estimated to be US$1.7 billion, and among other things, includes 34 AN/ALQ-99F(V) Tactical Jamming System Pods, 22 CN-1717/A Interference Cancellation Systems (INCANS), 22 R-2674(C)/A Joint Tactical Terminal Receiver (JTTR) Systems and 30 LAU-118 Guided Missile Launchers (for the AGM-88 High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile or HARM). It is unclear at this stage when the conversion of the Super Hornets is planned to start and conclude.

While the DSCA stresses that the notification is required by (U.S) law and "does not mean the sale has been concluded", such notifications are usually published when negotiations are at an advanced stage and the sale is about to be finalised, so we're pretty sure this sale is a given, once the i's have been dotted and the t's are crossed. Australia currently operates 24 two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornets with Nos 1 and 6 Sqns, based at RAAF Amberley southwest of Brisbane, in the state of Queensland. The Super Hornets replaced the last of the RAAF's RF/F-111Cs Aardvarks, which retired in late 2010.

A point to note: Once Australia gets it's 12 Growlers, it will effectively triple the number of this advanced Electronic Attack aircraft this side of the Pacific, with the current permanent force being six U.S. Navy Growlers of VAQ-141 Shadowhawks based at Atsugi, Japan assigned to Carrier Air Wing 5.

Australia to convert F/A-18Fs into EA-18Gs; defers 2nd F-35 order

Press reports in Australia are saying that six Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornets will be converted in EA-18G Growler Electronic Attack aircraft. Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith is expected to make the announcement next month, with the first aircraft to be converted at Boeing in St Louis, Missouri and the rest to be converted at their home base at RAAF Amberley, Queensland.

Meanwhile Mr. Smith has said that the decision to buy a second tranche of Lockheed-Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters for the RAAF could be pushed out to 2013 or beyond. The Defence Capability Plan says approval for the next tranche of 58 aircraft was set for 2012, however with the JSF program still beset by problems and delays, Australia has already earlier said it is considering delaying the delivery of 12 of its first tranche of 14 F-35s.

US Navy to forward deploy Shadowhawks Growlers to Atsugi, Japan

VAQ-141 EA-18G Growler. Photo by Troy Prince (MidwaySailor) on Fencecheck forums

This news kind of flew under the radar given the original directive was out January 17th. According to the U.S. Navy's Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, the Shadowhawks of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141 will move to Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, Japan, from NAS Whidbey Island at the end of February with six Boeing EA-18G Growlers.

The Shadowhawks will replace five EA-6B Prowlers of VAQ-136 Gauntlets in Japan, home of Carrier Air Wing Five and the USS George Washington (CVN-73), the U.S. Navy's sole carrier air wing/aircraft carrier forward deployed outside of the continental United States.

Australia considering Super Hornet conversion to Growlers

US Navy EA-18G Growler of VAQ-135 Black Ravens. Photo © f18e777 on Flickr

Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith has confirmed that Australia is considering the acquisition of an electronic attack capability through the modification of up to 12 of the RAAF’s Boeing F/A-18F+ Super Hornets.

Speaking to SKY News on October 19, Mr Smith said “we are now starting the process of looking very closely and carefully at whether this is a capability that Australia should acquire.”

12 of the RAAF’s 24 Super Hornets have been pre-wired and have had other preparatory work done on the production line in anticipation of a possible conversion to EA-18G Growler standard. It has been reported elsewhere that the cost of acquisition of associated equipment and conversion of six of the RAAF's existing Super Hornets could cost up to A$400 million.

500th Super Hornet/Growler delivered to US Navy

With all aircraft delivered on budget and ahead of schedule, Boeing and the US Navy have marked the 500th F/A-18E/F or EA-18G Growler joining the Navy's fleet. The type is expected to operate from US Navy aircraft carriers through 2035 and beyond.

American aircraft still conducting strikes on Libya

US Defense Department officials have said that American fighter jets been have continuing to participate in airstrikes over Libya under NATO command. Six Air Force F-16s and five Navy EA-18G Growler electronic attack planes have been assigned to NATO and have carried out strikes against targets, including mobile surface-to-air missile.

US Navy deploys EA-18G Growlers for the first time

Boeing has announced that its EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack aircraft have been deployed for the first time by the US Navy. While no other details are available from Boeing, it probably refers to VAQ-132 Scorpions late 2010 deployment of five aircraft to Al-Asad, Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn.

PHOTO: Prowler and Growler in Centennial retro paint schemes

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An E/A-6B Prowler from the "Vikings" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129, based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Wash., arrives at NAS North Island Jan. 27. The Prowler is painted in a throwback tactical paint scheme (circa 1942), honoring U.S. combat aircraft that fought in the Battle of the Coral Sea during World War II. The specially-painted Prowler is one of more than 200 naval aircraft, from pre-World War II to the present, participating in a Parade of Flight over San Diego Bay, kicking off a series of nationwide events celebrating the Centennial of Naval Aviation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Joseph Moon)

When Hornets growl (EA-18G Growler feature)

Air & Space Magazine has a feature on the EA-18G Growler Electronic Warfare aircraft as well as a short history of EW. Well worth a read.

PHOTO: Sneak peek of US Navy Centenary Growler

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Here's a sneak peek of the US Navy's Centenary of Naval Aviation EA-18G Growler. Can't wait to see a proper high resolution shot of this one! (Photo: US Naval Air Forces Facebook)

EA-18G Growlers Take to Fallon Skies

Two EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack aircraft have recently began validation with Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center's Airborne Electronic Attack Weapons School (AEAWS) at NAS Fallon. AEAWS will provide training to the US Navy's electronic attack squadrons in the electronic attack and air-to-air arena.

PHOTO: Shadowhawks CAG Growler lands on USS George H.W. Bush

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101023-N-3737T-426 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 23, 2010) An EA-18G Growler assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141 lands during flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). George H.W. Bush is underway conducting training operations in the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eric Tretter/Released)

Boeing receives US Navy contract for 124 aircraft

Boeing has been awarded a new multi-year procurement contract valued at US$5.3b from the U.S. Navy for 124 new jets. Under the terms of the agreement, Boeing will deliver 66 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and 58 EA-18G Growlers to the Navy from 2012 through 2015.