Boeing Flies EA-18G Wingtip and Jamming Pods for First Time



ST. LOUIS, June 12, 2006 -- The Boeing EA-18G program test team reached
a key milestone May 30 when it flew a modified F/A-18F equipped with
wingtip antenna and high- and low-band jamming pods for the first time.
The flight was part of ongoing flying qualities and carrier suitability
testing to validate the EA-18G's shipboard effectiveness. The EA-18G
Growler is a derivative of the F/A-18F Super Hornet that has been flying
from carriers since 1997.

The three-month carrier suitability tests, flown by U.S. Navy pilots,
include catapult launches and cable arrestments from test facilities at
Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. Initial tests will measure
aircraft loads to verify that the landing gear and airframe meet design
specifications. The tests also will monitor the catapult and arrestment
systems to assess if the Growler settings are accurate.

"These tests are a big milestone for the EA-18G program," said Mike
Gibbons, Boeing EA-18G program manager. "We know the Super Hornet
airframe works well in challenging at-sea conditions. Now we're
verifying that the EA-18G, with potentially greater bringback for fuel
and weapons capacity, will work just as well."

Over 25 flights, the carrier suitability tests will measure how well the
Growler performs in a variety of takeoff and landing situations,
including high-sink, free-flight engagement, on- and off-center
catapults, and arrestments. The EA-18G testing will allow for higher
landing weights than the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet to provide greater
flexibility in the return of high-value jamming pods plus other weapons
and stores.

Boeing, acting as the weapon system integrator and prime contractor,
leads the EA-18G Growler industry team. Northrop Grumman is the
principal subcontractor and airborne electronic attack subsystem
integrator. The Hornet Industry Team will divide EA-18G production
across Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Electric, and Raytheon
manufacturing facilities. The System Design and Development program
concludes with an Initial Operational Capability in 2009. Naval Air
Systems Command PMA-265 is the U.S. Navy acquisition office for the
EA-18G.

It's amazing that thing can even get off the ground, let alone fly with all that crap on it.

vmax84

So, three ECM pods, two drop tanks, two HARMs and...???

What are the missiles on the nacelle fuselage pylons?


eta: AMRAAMs?

Assuming this is meant as a replacement for the EA-6B Prowler. Are those still in service?

Quoted: It's amazing that thing can even get off the ground, let alone fly with all that crap on it. vmax84

That's what it was designed to do.
The jammers don't weigh that much.

It's got three ALQ-99's, two drop tanks, two AGM88 HARM missiles and two (DLQ-3/ALQ-167??) wingtip pods.

Quoted: So, three ECM pods, two drop tanks, two HARMs and...??? What are the missiles on the nacelle fuselage pylons? eta: AMRAAMs?

Looks like AMRAAMs or Sparrows.

Quoted: It's amazing that thing can even get off the ground, let alone fly with all that crap on it. vmax84

No different than some of the M-Forgeries around here with all the Swiss Army knife stuff on them....

Hey, what was doing the job of the EA6 Prowler after it got retired?

Quoted: Quoted: It's amazing that thing can even get off the ground, let alone fly with all that crap on it. vmax84 No different than some of the M-Forgeries around here with all the Swiss Army knife stuff on them.... Hey, what was doing the job of the EA6 Prowler after it got retired?

Prowler is still in service.

Boeing Flies EA-18G Wingtip and Jamming Pods for First Time

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Cool, tiptanks, like a T33, except not used for fuel.

I wonder if they are still having aerodynamic issues with the pylons when the pods are mounted on them.
Whatever, I will be on my last tour when those planes reach squadron service.

Prowlers are still most definitely in service. I'm sitting at NAS Fallon right now, waiting on two of them to come back from a flight as I type...

Cool. The EA-18G sounds like it's going to have some good capabilities.

Quoted: Quoted: So, three ECM pods, two drop tanks, two HARMs and...??? What are the missiles on the nacelle fuselage pylons? eta: AMRAAMs? Looks like AMRAAMs or Sparrows.

They are HARM, the give away is the shape of the large fins at the center of the missile.  The Sparrow has fins that are of a different shape.

HARM on wing stations 2 & 10. "Cheek" stations 5 & 7 can carry AIM-7 Sparrow or AIM-120 AMRAAM. Those look like AMRAAMs.

Quoted: HARM on wing stations 2 & 10. "Cheek" stations 5 & 7 can carry AIM-7 Sparrow or AIM-120 AMRAAM. Those look like AMRAAMs.

Damn didn't notice the AMRAAM's, they blend in real well with fuselage, pretty easy to identify though.  The Sparrow is roughly the size of the HARM, both missiles are much bigger than the AMRAAM.  I know the Sparrow, I had it for a test problem in AIR II Division in EOD school.

I noticed the wing hard points are still canted outwards like the E/F's.... that seems like a ton of unessessary drag with all those pods hanging there....  

Should help to sort out the confusion.  



Let me know if the link no work.  

Is the EA18G a single seater? Looks like my question was answered!

So, is this ECM gear better, worse, same as that already on the Prowler?

Also, considering the A6 was a bomb truck, I'm assuming that the Prowler could carry all this stuff as well as additional ordinance. I ask because I thought that the Prowler carried four HARMs.

No expert here, but the prowler has 2 enlisted, 1 nfo [corrected thanks to a fellow Navy guy] 3 NFO's and a pilot... the Growler is trying to use automation to replace two NFO's, and continue to give NFO's a job in a tactical jet platform...

from my point of view the Growler is a politically and fiscally motivated plan to replace an old (expensive, maintence intensive) warhorse.

1. It gives NFO tactical jobs (the prowler is the last jet with them onboard)
2. It gives airframe commonality which will save a ton o cash in the long run.
3. It replaces an aging veteran platform.

My old platform (the EP-3) did a lot of coordination with the prowlers in a tactical environment (read that attacking an enemy's airdefense systems, and suppressing enemy anti air systems)...  and the only way to talk to them when they are jamming is on frequencies far different that what they are transmitting on (there are a lot o watts comming out of those pods)....   I have a hard time believing we'll still be able to talk to them when they are pumping out trons in the new Growler....   that would be a major disadvantage to the Growler....

my .02

Tom

Quoted: No expert here, but the prowler has 2 enlisted, 1 nfo and a pilot... the Growler is trying to use automation to replace the two E's, and give NFO's a job in a tactical jet plat form...

The Prowler is actually 3 NFOs and a Pilot.

For everyone else: Those are AMRAAMs on the cheek stations.

Quoted: Quoted: No expert here, but the prowler has 2 enlisted, 1 nfo and a pilot... the Growler is trying to use automation to replace the two E's, and give NFO's a job in a tactical jet plat form... The Prowler is actually 3 NFOs and a Pilot. For everyone else: Those are AMRAAMs on the cheek stations.

I stand corrected...   Thanks for the enlightenment...  I think it still makes my point about keeping the NFO's alive in the jet community.... I must have been getting my converstaions with former S-3/ES-3 NFO's confused with former EA-6B guys (we get lots of retreads in VQ)....

Tom