Boeing EA-18G Growler

Boeing · United States · first flew 2006 · fighter

A two-seat carrier-based electronic-attack aircraft based on the F/A-18F Super Hornet, the US Navy's modern airborne jamming platform.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, swept
E — Engines	2 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	18.3 m fuselage
T — Tail	Twin fin

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Super Hornet airframe with two canted tail fins
Wingtip ALQ-218 receiver pods that distinguish it from a fighter Hornet
Two turbofans with angular rectangular intakes and leading-edge root extensions

Tell it from a standard Super Hornet by the bulky wingtip receiver pods, and identify the family by the twin canted fins and angular intakes.

Specifications

The Boeing EA-18G Growler has a length of 18.3 m (60 ft).
It has a wingspan of 13.7 m (45 ft).
Its maximum speed is 1900 km/h (1181 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 2006, the Growler replaced the ageing EA-6B Prowler by packing tactical jamming and electronic-attack systems into a Super Hornet airframe while retaining much of the fighter's speed and agility. It carries jamming pods and anti-radiation missiles to suppress enemy air defences.

Variants

It is a single production type derived from the F/A-18F, kept current through spiral hardware and software upgrades; Australia is the only export operator alongside the US Navy.

Where you'll see it

A US Navy and Royal Australian Air Force type not flown by Britain, so it is not UK-based; British enthusiasts can occasionally see US Navy examples visiting exercises or major shows such as RIAT.

Related aircraft

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