Will Replace EA-6B In Naval Arsenal

Just over one month since the aircraft's first flight, representatives with Boeing told ANN Monday the company delivered the first EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack (AEA) aircraft to the US Navy test site at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD.

The first EA-18G, known as aircraft EA-1, made the two-hour flight from St. Louis to Maryland with US Navy pilot Lt. Matt Doyle and weapons system operator US Navy Cmdr. Jamie Engdahl on board. EA-1 is the first of two test aircraft built under a System Development and Demonstration contract Boeing signed with the Navy on December 29, 2003.

"Delivering this aircraft today continues a promise we made to our customer," said Kevin Fogarty, Boeing EA-18G chief engineer. "We're delivering new capability ahead of schedule, and we look forward to the next step in flight test, where we can prove the advanced concepts and technologies the Growler brings to the AEA community and the Navy."

In addition to flight testing, EA-1 will undergo extensive ground testing in the Patuxent River anechoic chamber to assess on-board radar, receiver and jammer compatibility and performance. The second EA-18G will join the flight test program at Patuxent River later this year.

A derivative of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet, the EA-18G's highly flexible design enables warfighters to perform an array of AEA missions, operating from either the deck of an aircraft carrier or land-based fields. The EA-18G will replace the Navy's current AEA platform, the EA-6B Prowler, which has been in service since 1971.

The first production Growler will join the Navy's aircraft fleet in 2008.

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 and Development program concludes with an Initial Operational Capability in 2009.

Naval Air Systems Command PMA-265 is the US Navy acquisition office for the EA-18G.

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.navy.mil