20 seats a year for you valheru21

News Release Issued: November 30, 2009 2:00 PM EST

Boeing EA-18G Growler to Advance to Full Rate Production

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 30, 2009 –– The Boeing EA-18G Growler was approved to
advance into Full Rate Production (FRP) by the U.S. Department of Defense
(DOD) on Nov. 23. The St. Louis-based EA-18G program now can proceed from
Low Rate Initial Production to FRP quantities of approximately 20 aircraft
per year.

"Full Rate Production for the EA-18G is critical, as it enables Boeing to
quickly ramp up production of the U.S. Navy's newest and most advanced
airborne electronic attack (AEA) platform, and rapidly get this new
capability to the warfighter," said Bob Gower, F/A-18 and EA-18 Programs
vice president for Boeing. "The FRP decision is also a clear indication of
DOD support for the EA-18G program and the immediate capability it will
provide Combatant Commanders around the world."

The EA-18G achieved Initial Operational Capability as planned in September
with U.S. Navy electronic attack squadron VAQ-132, based at Naval Air
Station Whidbey Island, Wash.

The EA-18G's highly-flexible design enables warfighters to perform an array
of AEA missions, operating either from the deck of an aircraft carrier or
from land-based fields. It is the only airborne platform that delivers
full-spectrum electronic attack capability, along with targeting and
self-defense capabilities derived from the Navy's frontline strike fighter,
the F/A-18E/F Block II Super Hornet. The new aircraft is replacing the
Navy's current AEA platform, the EA-6B Prowler, which has been in service
since 1971. The Growler joined the Navy's aircraft fleet in 2008.

Boeing, acting as the weapon system integrator and prime contractor, leads
the EA-18G Growler industry team, which also includes Northrop Grumman,
Raytheon, and General Electric Aircraft Engines.

Yeah, but their pilots still fly racetracks.

(not that I wouldn't give a nut to fly one in big circles over an empty ocean)

Yeah, Twice around the boat and hit the tanker

Look at the picture to the left.  Mach 2.5 at 50,000 ft.    1000+KIAS below 1000 feet AGL  34000 lbs of fuel.  ALQ-99E Jammer.  It is the gold standard to judge all EW platforms by.

Fucking A!

I have an old book: ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY II, (1983) where it lists all of the prices of America's weapons and their unit costs.  Regarding the Prowler, it states that those ALQ-99(a) pods each output enough electricity to power a city of 100,000, so I'm sure the newer versions are more efficient.

Chris

If your gold standard is about speed keep this in mind.  The EF-111 canoe has two transmitters.  The EA-6B and EA-18G can carry up to 10 transmitters but typically only carry 6.  Since electrons move at the speed of light and the primary mission is to get electrons on target - the real EW winner is who can carry more tron generators.

All that airspeed is great - but what does that actually bring to the fight? Furthermore if you are going mach 2.5 and protecting strikers doing mach 1.1 to 1.5 than once again - what does all that airspeed buy you?

The EA-18G is the most complicated piece of gear I have ever seen.  The amount of code they have crammed into that thing in its first iteration is eye watering.  The folks that engineered, built and tested it are a credit to their profession.  Could it have been better?  Absolutely, but with the current budget and schedule its right where it needs to be.

Dude, this is GD, don't be posting up to date facts and figures supporting this new and most excellent piece of equipment (I actually think the Growler is pretty cool),
The EF-111 Looks way cool. Was faster than crap, and could get down low and make the bad guys run into the ground when they tried to intercept it.

From Wiki:
"On January 17, 1991, a USAF EF-111 crew: Captain James Denton and Captain Brent Brandon ("Brandini") are acknowledged to have scored a kill against an Iraqi Dassault Mirage F1, which they managed to maneuver into the ground, making it the only F-111 to achieve an aerial victory over another aircraft"

On a sad note, I had to spend the night keeping an eye on remains of the only EF-111 to crash during Desert Shield/Dersert Storm.