Northrop Grumman - Defining The Future
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Specifications

Type:
Airborne electronic attack aircraft
Power Plant:
Two General Electric F414-GE-400 derivative turbofan engines rated in the 44,000-pounds of thrust
Crew:
Two - Pilot, electronic countermeasures officer
Armament:
ALQ-218(V)2 RF receiver; multi mission adv tactical terminal communications; ESM receiver; AESA radar (having growth capability as receiver and jammer asset); ALQ-99 pods in various bands under wings and fuselage; ALQ-227 comms communication receivers
Wing-tip pods with: low-band, mid-band and high-band acquisition and DF antenna arrays;
The pallet in the gun bay will have: processor, channelized receiver, digital measurement receiver, power supply, communications countermeasures set receiver

EA-18G Growler

Program Overview:
A derivative of the combat-proven, two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet, the EA-18G, which is being developed for the U.S. Navy, will enable 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 Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems. The AEA system in the Growler features a derivative of Northrop Grumman's Improved Capability (ICAP) III system for the EA-6B Prowler, which has had remarkable success in Operation Iraqi Freedom, its first combat deployment.

The U.S. Navy selected the EA-18G to replace the EA-6B Prowler, which has been in service since 1971. Boeing/Northrop Grumman received the EA-18G Systems Development and Demonstration phase contract on Dec. 29, 2003. The aircraft's first flight occurred in 2006. EA-18G flight and mission system testing is taking place at the Navy's Patuxent River, Md. and China Lake, Calif., test sites through 2008.

Two development EA-18G aircraft have been delivered. Four Lot 30 EA-18G aircraft will be built for Operational test and Evaluation (OPEVAL). Initial operational capability is scheduled for the end of 2009.