Posted on 08/04/2006 4:03:50 PM PDT by MARKUSPRIME
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 04, 2006 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] yesterday rolled out the U.S. armed forces' newest airborne electronic attack aircraft, the EA-18G Growler, on time and within budget.
Boeing presented the aircraft to a crowd of more than 750 U.S. Navy customers, industry partners and Boeing employees during a ceremony at its Integrated Defense Systems facilities in St. Louis. U.S. Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen, Chief of Naval Operations and guest speaker at the ceremony, said, "The Growler is a model of what a strong strategic relationship between the Navy and industry can do. It represents acquisition excellence at its finest. This program has saved billions of dollars with an innovative approach.
"It is clear that the demand for electronic warfare is not only going to remain high, but is going to grow," the admiral said during his remarks. "The Growler was designed and built to answer that call. Its speed, range and robust self-defense systems will serve as force multipliers for naval aviation and greatly strengthen the entire joint force."
A derivative of the combat-proven, two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet, the EA-18G's highly flexible design enables warfighters to perform an array of airborne electronic attack (AEA) missions, operating from either the deck of an aircraft carrier or land-based fields. The EA-18G integrates the capabilities of the most advanced AEA system, designed and produced by the Northrop Grumman Corporation, which recently completed tests on the EA-6B, with the advanced weapons, sensors and communications systems found on the Super Hornet.
The U.S. Navy selected the EA-18G to replace the current AEA platform, the EA-6B Prowler, which has been in service since 1971. Boeing received the EA-18G Systems Development and Demonstration phase contract on Dec. 29, 2003. The aircraft's first flight is planned for later this month, several weeks ahead of the originally scheduled date. EA-18G flight testing will take place at the Navy's Patuxent River, Md. and China Lake, Calif., test sites through 2008.
"Today's events are a tribute to the unparalleled excellence of the Hornet Industry Team, which has continually shown the nation that developmental programs can meet or exceed customer's expectations," said Chris Chadwick, vice president and general manager of Boeing Global Strike Systems. "We stand here today as a testament to innovation and excellence in every aspect of procurement, from the person who first came up with the concept, to the person who turned the last wrench to bring this amazing aircraft to us today."
The Growler will join the Navy's aircraft fleet in 2009. Capt. Donald "BD" Gaddis, F/A-18 program manager for the U.S. Navy, praised the development program, saying, "We're providing the warfighters of today something they can't even imagine. We're going to deliver a product that is truly going to transform the way we fight."
Boeing, acting as the weapon system integrator and prime contractor, leads the EA-18G Growler industry team. Northrop Grumman is the principal subcontractor and airborne electronic attack subsystem integrator. The Hornet Industry Team will divide EA-18G production across Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Electric and Raytheon manufacturing facilities. The System Design, Development and Demonstration program concludes with an Initial Operational Capability in 2009. Naval Air Systems Command PMA-265 is the U.S. Navy acquisition office for the EA-18G.
SWEET!
Growler..... nice
I think i need to take one right now.
Let's tell Spike Lee he's personally responsible for rebuilding New Orleans (excuse me, Chocolate Oz), take the money we save and buy a bunch of these babies.
Awesome.Do we need the United Nations permission to use em ???
Nice Dart..
When a gap occurs, will an image of this jet be at the end of the transmission?
"We interrupt this broadcast because the Navy is...."
Just common courtesy to let our green friends know the reason for the "technical difficulties, right?
Sweet looking' bird!
:-)
The E-A6B was a four seater aircraft. Pilot and three EWOs, I believe. It's hard to believe that one EWO is going to be able to handle the same workload that it took three to handle before.
Good looking bird, though.
The USAF EF-111 flew a similar mission with only one EWO. I think newer systems had a lot to do with it.
Electronic warfare/jamming,etc.
Ronin,
Only the two ECMOs in back concentrated on the ECM mission. GIF (Guy in front could work some limited functions) Upgrade to some ECM functions may help the workload.
Having said that, look at the picture and see that it carries three fuel tanks. The Growler will be range limited without refueling. A trade-off that will affect the performance.
Sorry, two fuel tanks. Even more limiting!
HoooooKay........
Spike Lee is living proof that beastiality should be discouraged at every turn.
The same goes for the state of Louisana.
Personally, I don't think the FA-18 is the right platform for the replacement of the EA-6B.
VAQ-140 plank owner
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