Royal Australian Air Force EA-18G Growlers to get even better capabilities


Australia has expanded its partnership with the United States to develop the Next Generation Jammer system for the EA-18G Growler. Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said jammer systems used advanced electronic jamming technology to support the Growler aircraft.

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Royal Australian Air Force EA 18G Growlers to get even better capabilities 925 001 A Royal Australian Air Force EA-18G Growler. (Picture source: Royal Australian Air Force)


This unique, high-end capability can disrupt, deceive or deny a broad range of military electronic systems, including radars and communications.

The Next Generation Jammer - Low Band counters low-frequency adversary systems, increasing survivability and lethality of 4th and 5th generation platforms and enables all-domain access for the joint force by supporting electromagnetic spectrum dominance.

11 EA-18G Growlers are operated by No. 6 Squadron based at RAAF Base Amberley and operate in conjunction with our air, land and sea forces. Initial Operational Capability (IOC) was declared in April 2019.


Royal Australian Air Force EA 18G Growlers to get even better capabilities 925 002A Royal Australian Air Force EA-18G Growler. (Picture source: Royal Australian Air Force)


About the aircraft:

The EA-18G Growler is an electronic attack aircraft. It is capable of disrupting, deceiving or denying a broad range of military electronic systems, including radars and communications.

Growlers help to reduce the risk to our forces and improve their situational awareness. It can support a wide range of Defence tasks, from peacetime evacuations to major conflicts.

The Growler is based on the F/A-18F Super Hornet airframe, and is fitted with:

- Additional avionics;
- Enhanced radio frequency receivers;
- Improved communications suite;
- ALQ radio-frequency jamming pods which enable it to jam enemy systems.


Royal Australian Air Force EA 18G Growlers to get even better capabilities 925 003 An EA-18G Growler. (Picture source: U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Heather Redman)


Specifications:

- Length: 18.3 m;
- Height: 4.9 m;
- Wingspan: 13.7 m;
- Weight: 15,011 kg (empty);
- Engines: Two F414-GE-400 engines;
- Thrust: 44,000 lbs;
- Range: 1,570 km (fully armed with external fuel tanks);
- Ceiling: 50,000 feet;
- Max Speed: 1,960 km/h (Mach 1.6);
- Capacity: ALQ-99 Low and High band jamming pods, Electromagnetic spectrum dominance, Enhanced Situational Awareness and Networking;
- Weapons: AGM-88 Anti-Radiation Missiles, AIM-120 Air-to-air missiles, AIM-9X “Sidewinder” Short Range Air-to-Air Missile.