EA-18G Growler

EA-18G Growler (Electronic warfare) – 85

Manufacturer: Boeing

First flight: 15 August 2006

Introduction: 22 September 2009

Produced: 2004-present

Number built: 117

Unit cost: $68.2 million (flyaway cost, FY2012)

Developed from: Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet

General characteristics

Crew: 2

Length: 18.31 m

Wingspan: 13.62 m (including wingtip-mounted pods)

Height: 4.88 m

Wing area: 46.5 m²

Empty weight: 15,011 kg

Loaded weight: 21,772 kg

Max. takeoff weight: 29,964 kg

Powerplant: 2× General Electric F414-GE-400 turbofans

Dry thrust: 6,353 kgf (62.3 kN) each

Thrust with afterburner: 9,983 kgf (97.9 kN) each

Internal fuel capacity: 6,323 kg

External fuel capacity: 4,420 kg (3 tanks)

Performance

Maximum speed: Mach 1.8 (1,900 km/h) at 12,190 m

Range: 2,346 km; clean plus 2 AIM-9s

Combat radius: 722 km; for interdiction mission

Ferry range: 3,330 km; range without ordnance

Service ceiling: >15,000 m

Wing loading: 453 kg/m²

Thrust/weight: 0.93

Armament

Guns: None

Hardpoints: 9 total: 6× under-wing, and 3× under-fuselage with a capacity of 8,050 kg external fuel and ordnance

The 2 wingtips missile launcher rail for AIM-9 Sidewinder, found on the E/F Super Hornet, have been replaced with AN/ALQ-218 detection pods, 6 removable under wing mounted hard points (inboard pylons will carry fuel tanks, mid-board pylons will carry AN/ALQ-99 High Band Jamming Pods, and outboard pylon reserved for AGM-88 HARM missiles), 2 multi-mode conformal fuselage stations (AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles), 1 centerline fuselage removable hardpoint, for AN/ALQ-99 Low Band Jamming Pod.

Currently, Phase I of the Growler will carry the AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles for self-protection at the 2 conformal fuselage stations and AGM-88 HARM missiles. The A/A-49A-2 gun system with the 20 mm M61A2 cannon has been removed and replaced by a pod of electronic boxes that control the AN/ALQ-218 and assist with the coordination AN/ALQ-99 jamming attacks.

According to the possible weapon configurations which were revealed, EA-18G would also be capable of performing «time-sensitive» strike missions, carrying AGM-154 JSOW under wings, or multi-sensor reconnaissance missions with SHARP and AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR on centerline and left conformal weapon stations, respectively.

Avionics

Raytheon AN/APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar

Mnemonics, Inc 990-1119-001 Electronic Attack Unit (EAU) AES Mission Computer