The new aircraft will replace the country’s EA-18G A46-311 aircraft lost in an accident at Nellis Air Force Base. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency of the US Department of Defense (DOD) approved the sale of one EA-18G Growler Aircraft and related equipment worth $125m to the Government of Australia in September 2021. Australia is the first country outside the US to operate the EA-18G Growler aircraft.Īn EA-18G Growler, along with two F/A-18 Super Hornets, underwent flight trials at the Pirkkala Air Base near Tampere, Finland, for procurement process in February 2020. The aircraft achieved initial operational capability in April 2019 and are currently operated by the RAAF. The EA-18G Growler fleet is based at NAS Whidbey Island.īoeing was awarded a contract to deliver 12 Growlers to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) under a foreign military sales agreement with the USN in June 2014. Northrop Grumman is the principal subcontractor and airborne electronic attack subsystem integrator. Boeing also leads the EA-18G Growler industry team. The Boeing Company is the prime contractor and weapon system integrator. Naval Air Systems Command PMA-265 is the USN acquisition office for the EA-18G. In service, the aircraft carries out a range of missions, including stand-off and escort jamming, surveillance, and strike. The SDD programme concluded with initial operational capability in late 2009, when the first of ten electronic attack squadrons (VAQ) began EA-18G operations. The first operational aircraft was delivered to Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Washington, in June 2008, and operational evaluation began in October 2008 on board the USS John C Stennis (CVN 74) aircraft carrier. The first production aircraft was delivered to the USN in September 2007. This was followed by delivery of the first two test aircraft to the USN in September and November 2006. The Growler aircraft’s first test flight was successfully completed in August 2006. A contract for the first four production aircraft was signed in July 2006. The US Navy (USN) awarded a five-year system development and demonstration (SDD) contract in December 2003.

High speed gun jam