Australia To Acquire Growler Electronic Warfare System For Super Hornet

The Australian Government today announced its decision acquire the Growler electronic warfare system for the Super Hornet at a cost of around $1.5 billion. The latest acquisition makes Australia the only country in the world, other than the United States, operating Growler aircraft. Growler is an electronic warfare system that gives the Super Hornet the ability to jam the electronics systems of aircraft and land-based radars and communications systems. The Growler is a specialised version of the Super Hornet and is also currently in service with the United States Navy. The Growler electronic warfare aircraft was used very effectively by the United States Navy during air operations in Libya last year. In March this year, the Government announced that in addition to the decision to wire 12 Super Hornets for potential conversion to Growler, the Government would spend nearly $20 million to purchase long lead item electronic equipment for the Growler. The May 2012 Budget included a capacity to acquire Growler, and it was included in the Public Defence Capability Plan released in July this year. The Government has now made the decision to acquire the Growler electronic warfare system for the Super Hornet. The Growlers will be available for operations from 2018. The purchase of this equipment is being made through the United States Foreign Military Sales process.