Growlers on the way
Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2015 10:05 am
The RAAF is currently working up a force of E/A-18G Growlers in the United States after the first Australian aircraft rolled off the production line recently.
http://www.news.com.au/technology/innov ... 7465140351
This really is one of the most important defence projects in the history of the RAAF. Most of the others are incremental improvements. This is a whole new game. Probably the only other project of this magnitude in recent times has been the Wedgetail.
Until now, our only other EW capability rested with some ancient HS-748s (now retired I believe). The Growlers will give us a jamming capability which will be unique in the region. The USN has worked the RAAF and supported it to get what they want. No other nation has been allowed this level of access to US jamming technology. We will also get the new version of the AGM-88 HARM as well as the AIM-9X.
While the original idea of buying Superhornets was, in my view, extremely flawed, the Growler is a major improvement in our regional defence capability and the commonality across the two types will be a significant advantage.
For the spotters among you, the G model can be distinguished from the others by the jammer pods on the wingtips and the mid-span fences on the top of the wings. There are some other minor detail differences but I don't understand them.
The project will revert from the US to Amberley in 2017.
http://www.news.com.au/technology/innov ... 7465140351
This really is one of the most important defence projects in the history of the RAAF. Most of the others are incremental improvements. This is a whole new game. Probably the only other project of this magnitude in recent times has been the Wedgetail.
Until now, our only other EW capability rested with some ancient HS-748s (now retired I believe). The Growlers will give us a jamming capability which will be unique in the region. The USN has worked the RAAF and supported it to get what they want. No other nation has been allowed this level of access to US jamming technology. We will also get the new version of the AGM-88 HARM as well as the AIM-9X.
While the original idea of buying Superhornets was, in my view, extremely flawed, the Growler is a major improvement in our regional defence capability and the commonality across the two types will be a significant advantage.
For the spotters among you, the G model can be distinguished from the others by the jammer pods on the wingtips and the mid-span fences on the top of the wings. There are some other minor detail differences but I don't understand them.
The project will revert from the US to Amberley in 2017.