Air Warfare

USN Growlers undergo structural and mission systems modification

22nd March 2021 - 11:27 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

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Airborne Electronic Attack System Enhancements will be added to the EA-18G fleet.

Boeing has begun a five-year modification programme for the entire USN EA-18G Growler fleet with the induction of the first EW aircraft at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

‘The modifications are focused on updating the jets’ structural and mission systems architecture, enabling future capability growth for the Navy’s 160 Growler aircraft,’ Boeing announced in a statement on 19 March.

Full-rate modification is expected to start in June 2021. The ALQ-218 receiver system will receive the Airborne Electronic Attack System Enhancements modification, enabling the Growler to operate in ‘increasingly complex electromagnetic environments’, according to Boeing.

According to Shephard Defence Insight, the ALQ-218 utilises a combination of short-, medium- and long-baseline interferometer techniques, with a patented passive ranging algorithm, to provide geo-location of emitters for cueing jammers and other onboard sensors such as EO/IR sensors and radar.

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