Six U.S. Navy EA-18G Electronic Attack Jets Headed to Germany; Deployment Not Against Russian Action in Ukraine

The U.S. Navy’s six EA-18G electronic attack aircraft will arrive in Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, as Russia continues to fire tens of missiles every day at Ukrainian targets.

The Growler jets are originally based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington State. These aircraft are said to have the world's most advanced electronic countermeasures which can jam the radars of enemy aircraft. They can also jam or interfere with the radars of ground or ship based missile launch and target tracking systems.

Around mid-February, before Russia invaded Ukraine, the U.S. deployed a dozen F-35A Lightning II fighters and 350 airmen to the German base. Additionally, six KC-135 Stratotankers from the 100th Aerial Refueling Wing at RAF Mildenhall in the U.K. have been deployed to Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

"This is in order to bolster readiness, enhance NATO's collective defense posture and further increase air integration capabilities with our allied and partner nations," Pentagon spokesman John F. Kirby said at a regular press conference today. "These Growlers ... are equipped for a variety of missions. But they do specialize in flying electronic warfare missions, using a suite of jamming sensors to confuse enemy radars, greatly aiding in the ability to conduct suppression of enemy air defense operations."

The six aircraft are from VAQ 134, an electronic attack squadron also known as the "Garudas." The EA-18G Growler is a variant of the F/A-18 aircraft and combines the "Super Hornet" platform with an electronic warfare suite.

According to a Navy fact sheet, the EA-18G Growler integrates the latest electronic attack technology, including the ALQ-218 receiver, ALQ-99 tactical jamming pods, ALQ-227 Communication Countermeasures Set and Joint Tactical Terminal — Receiver satellite communications.

About 240 Navy personnel, including maintainers and pilots, will accompany the aircraft to Germany, Kirby said. Those aircraft will remain based in Germany and are expected to fly missions in support of eastern flank deterrence and defense.

Growlers won’t be used against Russia: Kirby

"They are not being deployed to be used against Russian forces in Ukraine," Kirby said. "They are being deployed completely in keeping with our efforts to bolster NATO's deterrence and defense capabilities along that eastern flank."

Kirby also said there was no specific threat or incident that drove the decision to send the aircraft to Germany.

"They are being deployed, as we have said all along, [because] the secretary wants to keep options open," he said. "He's in constant consultations with [Gen. Tod D. Wolters, commander of U.S. European Command and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe]. And as a result of discussions with Gen. Wolters, as well as the German government, this was deemed to be an additional move that could continue to bolster and reinforce our defenses on the eastern flank."