With new generations of large, electronically scanned array radars designed for sophisticated air defences proliferating across major aerospace powers, stealth aircraft designs will be compelled to weave through a narrowing number of cracks in coverage, resulting in more reliance on electronic warfare and attack to disable, distract or fool the new generation of air defences and less emphasis on stealthy airframe designs. Based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Washington State; and capable of operating from either an aircraft carrier or from land-bases the Boeing EA-18G Growler itself a heavier derivative of the combat-proven two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet (with a variant of Northrop Grumman's in-production Improved Capabilities (ICAP) - III Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) system) is an airborne electronic attack aircraft designed and developed as a replacement for the United States Navy (USN) EA-6B Prowler aircraft. One of the external visual characteristics difference is AN/ALQ-218 wideband receiver pods on the EA-18 Growler in place of wingtip air-to-air missiles on the F/A-18F. Typical missions include Electronic Attack (EA) and Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD), particularly at the opening stages of hostilities. The first EA-18G for fleet use was officially accepted by VAQ-129 ‘Vikings’ at NAS Whidbey Island on 3 June 2008, the aircraft's first test flight was successfully completed in August 2006 followed by delivery of the first two test aircraft to the USN in September and November 2006.
The first production aircraft was delivered to the USN in September 2007. The first operational aircraft was delivered to NAS Whidbey Island in June 2008 and operational evaluation began in October 2008 onboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). The SDD programme was scheduled with an initial operational capability in late 2009 when the first of ten electronic attack squadrons (VAQ) began EA-18G operations. The USN expects to buy eighty-five EA-18G Growlers to be based at NAS Whidbey Island to equip twelve fleet squadrons plus a training squadron. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) operates eleven EA-18G platforms entering service in 2017. In service the aircraft will carry out a range of missions including stand-off and escort jamming, surveillance and strike. The aircraft is powered by two General Electric F414-GE-400 afterburning turbofan engines, rated at 62kN or 98kN with afterburner alongside a titanium engine firewall incorporated into the aircraft structure.
The Growler is fitted with up to three EDO Corporation AN/ALQ-99 high & low-band tactical radar jamming pods, a maximum of five can be carried during exigencies. AN/ALQ-99 houses the exciters and the high radiated power jamming transmitters (additionally capable of firing sophisticated data streams into enemy emitters) together with AN/ALQ-218(V) 2 wideband receivers and a Raytheon AN/ALQ-227 communications countermeasures system both of which are mounted in the bay previously designated as the F/A-18F gun bay plus ALE-47 countermeasures dispenser. Pentagon officials avoid defining the “full spectrum” phrase, but it includes the ability to create false targets, speeds, altitudes and locations, invade enemy communications networks to see what enemy sensors see, and perhaps mine intelligence and plant pass false information.
The Next-Generation Jammer, is being designed for broader spectrum coverage, will focus AEA effects better and operate over longer ranges. From Block 2 standard Growler is equipped with the Raytheon AN/APG-79 multi-mode radar with passive detection mode and active radar suppression. The AN/APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar provides air-to-air and air-to-ground capability with detection, targeting, tracking and protection modes. The interleaved radar modes include real beam-mapping and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) modes with air-to-air search, air-to-air tracking, sea surface search and Ground Moving Target Indication & Tracking (GMTI&T).
The radar has an advanced four-channel receiver-exciter which provides wide bandwidth capability and the ability to generate a wide range of waveforms for electronic warfare, air-to-air and air-to-ground operation alongside simultaneous ability to operate in multiple air-to-air and air-to-ground modes. For providing threat detection, identification and location the Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems passive countermeasures system AN/ALQ-218(V)2 provides improved electronic surveillance data and Electronic Warfare situational awareness is a variant of the Improved Capabilities (ICAP) III system deployed on the USN EA-6B Prowler aircraft. The system's antennas are located on the port and starboard sides of the nose, the engine bays, in the wingtip pods and to the aft of the cockpit, providing 360° azimuth cover. The data links in turn can push large target and imagery files around tactical and intelligence networks. The EA-18G will also use the Interference Cancellation System (INCANS) to allow voice communication while jamming enemy communications.
The Growler aircraft has eleven weapon stations for carrying electronic mission systems and weapons and can then be used to carry out conventional strike missions when the requirements for EA and SEAD sorties are reduced. The aircraft is armed with the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM). In a surveillance-only configuration the EA-18G Growler will be armed with two AIM-120 for self-defence while for stand-off jamming and escort jamming missions the EA-18G will be armed with two AGM-88 plus two AIM-120 missiles. In a strike configuration the EA-18G will carry a heavier load of two each of AGM-88, AGM-154 Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW) and AIM-120. For close combat EA-18G is fitted with a combination of Hands on Throttle & Stick (HOTAS), full digital Fly-By-Wire (FBW) controls and Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) to provide “first look, first shot” high off-boresight weapons engagement capability, enabling the pilot to accurately direct or cue the weapons against enemy aircraft while performing high-g manoeuvres. While carrying out active transmitting jamming, the block 2 aircraft has the capability of handing off target data to other airborne, land or surface attack platforms.
On a smaller scale, yet from much closer range, the Growler will be capable of performing missions that were once “confined to” the secrecy-shrouded RC-135 Rivet Joint and the EC-130 Compass Call. The RC-135 can monitor enemy communications and other electronic emissions, while the EC-130 can jam and invade sensor and communication networks with sophisticated packages of exploitative algorithms albeit operating outside the range of enemy air defences, which are now pushing out to beyond 250-miles with the next generation of “triple-digit” Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM) like the Russian S-400. The EA-18G’s initial mission is to penetrate enemy airspace with high-speed strike aircraft and protect them with electronic jamming and after the AEA capability is refined, the physics of being closer to key targets such as sensors, computers and command-and-control centres will be exploited to compensate for the EA-18G’s “limited power and smaller antennas”.
Sayan Majumdar
An EA-18G Growler launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis. (photo: US Navy)
USN Boeing EA-18G Growler (photo: Bill Shemley)
