Australia Receives Last Two Boeing EA-18G Growler Aircraft

Australia has received final two of 12 Boeing EA-18G Growler two-seat electronic attack aircraft.

Australia has received its final two EA-18G into its Growler electronic attack fleet with a flypast over RAAF Base Amberley, Australian department of defense announced Friday.

Minister for Defence, Senator Marise Payne said, "The EA-18G Growlers will work with Army and Navy to deliver a networked joint force able to manoeuvre and fight in the electromagnetic spectrum."

Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Leo Davies said, "Australian Growlers have already conducted successful weapon firings and integration flights with RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets and US Navy EA-18G Growlers as part of operational test and evaluation. We have also had the graduation of the first operational transition course.

"Through our partnership with the US Navy we are already planning to keep Growler at the forefront of electronic attack capability throughout the life of the aircraft.

The Growler is based on the F/A-18F Super Hornet airframe and fitted with additional avionics, enhanced radio frequency receivers, an improved communications suite and radio-frequency jamming pods. It will provide a complementary capability to the F/A-18F Super Hornet and the F-35A Lightning II aircraft.

The Boeing-built EA-18G Growler purchase includes the aircraft, required mission and support systems, training and ongoing support to effectively develop and operate a Growler capability. Defence plans to achieve initial operational capability in 2018.