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Cover Story

The US Navy is replacing the EA-6B Prowler with the EA-18G Growler and is increasing its focus on dominating the electronic battlespace. The Prowler has been the mainstay of the USN’s airborne capability for some years, but it is being replaced by the Growler.

The EA-18G Growler has much greater capability, not only in

EA-18G Growler and Airborne Electronic Attack

By Lance Halvorson

the more modern electronic warfare and avionics systems, but in the high technology airframe and engines installed. The decision to modify 12 x RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets will result in the RAAF gaining an outstanding electronic warfare capability for Australia, and unmatched in our region for some time.

A cutaway diagram showing the key EW Systems. Photo: Boeing/USN

Although the RAAF plans to acquire the ALQ-99 tactical jamming system with the aircraft, the US Navy is developing the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) for the Growler. Although employed in the 1970s with considerable success in the Vietnam War, the ALQ-99 has been continually upgraded with greater capabilities and the latest version is currently on the few Prowlers remaining in the US Navy and the Growlers. However, the Growler is already suffering from having to use the ALQ-99 technology.

The ALQ-218 receivers on the Growler are state of the art, but a new tactical jamming system is required, the NGJ. Initial operational capability of the NGJ in the US Navy is planned for 2019. Procurement of the NGJ for the RAAF Growlers is currently unknown, but the requirement is probably being analysed/progressed in the RAAF.

The NGJ will have vastly improved capability, such as increased radiated power, new modern jamming modulations and the ability to target multiple, geographically separated threats simultaneously.1 However, effectively jamming enemy airspace requires a large amount of independently generated prime power. This power cannot be siphoned from the Growler. Therefore, creating sufficient power with a ram-air turbine or other power source is a serious technical challenge.

The US Navy, USAF and US companies are ‘reserved’ in their discussions on what is/should be incorporated in the NGJ, but systems that can deliver ‘tailored data

1 Bob Ferrante, VP and GM of ITT Electronic Systems’ Airborne Electronic Attack Department

WINGS Summer 2012 13

Cover Story

Diagram showing the Full Spectrum Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) provided by the EA-18G GrowlerPhoto: Boeing/USN

Diagram of the RF Spectrum Required for Defence System Suppression.Photo: Boeing/USN

streams’ for electronic attack and cyber –invasion, ie, a weapons system that can direct cyber effects into a radar/communications system, are likely to be well advanced. Such data streams can be fired into an antenna that ISR indicates is integrated with a target network. Most are.

Acknowledgements:ITT Electronic SystemsThe Navy – Magazine of the Navy League of Australia