Boeing Delivers First EA-18G to USN

[cancidas]

From FlightGlobal:

PICTURES: Boeing delivers first EA-18G 'Growler' to US Navy
By Stephen Trimble

Boeing on 25 September delivered the first of 90 planned EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft to the US Navy.

The first aircraft - named “G1” - was accepted by Delores Etter, assistant secretary of the navy for research, development and acquisition, at a delivery ceremony at Boeing Integrated Defense Systems' headquarters in St Louis, Missouri.


© Boeing


“The Growler team has remained on cost and schedule, while meeting or exceeding all performance parameters,” said Etter.

However, she also released a statement that appeared to downgrade the number of EA-18Gs that the navy intends to buy. The service's original plans called for buying a fleet of 90 aircraft, derived from Boeing's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter.

“We have a great start to a total procurement of over 80 Gs, which will operate in our fleet for decades to come,” Etter said.


© Boeing


Flight testing of the EA-18G is expected to conclude during 2008, with the aircraft scheduled to achieve initial operational capability in 2009, when it will begin to replace the USN's Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowlers.

ok, so my question is how does the EA-18 differ from the F/A-18? are the WSO's panels any different due to the different mission? is this airplane capale of supporting inflight refueling the way the EA-6Bs used to be?

once the EA-6Bs are totally gone, is the S-2 going to be the only non-boeing airplane in the USN's carrier-borne fleet?

[GrummanFan]

once the EA-6Bs are totally gone, is the S-2 going to be the only non-boeing airplane in the USN's carrier-borne fleet?

There are still the E2C's, which will be around for quite some time. And don't you mean S3's?

[cancidas]

once the EA-6Bs are totally gone, is the S-2 going to be the only non-boeing airplane in the USN's carrier-borne fleet?

There are still the E2C's, which will be around for quite some time. And don't you mean S3's?

no i meant the S-2 trackers. weren't the S-3s replaced by SH-60s for ASW roles?

[Gus]

S-2 trackers were retired from US Navy service in 1976. They were replaced by the S-3 Viking. The EA-6b Prowler replaced the EA-6A which looked just like an A-6 Intruder (2 seater) but had the football antenna on the vertical like an EA-6B (4 seats). The growler will replace this aircraft. At this rate the Navy will have EA-2C Hawkeyehornets too. The air wing will be all hornets. If they could make a Hornet hover, they would do that too! Too many Hornets.

[nikon50bigma]

True, way too many hornets.

[cancidas]

so what types are actually in the navy's inventory and are deployed on the carriers? there's the F/A-18, E-2C, EA-6B and the C-2A? haev all the S-3s been sent to the desert already?

what's the difference between the E-2 and the C-2? i mean, aside from the obvious...

[GrummanFan]

Here's a list of what is currently in the Navy's inventory. It appears that there are still a few S3's in service.

http://www.stevesairshow.com/air-wings.html

The E2C takes care of electronic warfare and jamming and such, whereas the C-2 is a cargo plane, but its essentially the same structure as the E2C.

[flyboy 28]

is this airplane capale of supporting inflight refueling the way the EA-6Bs used to be?

Some versions of the E/F Super Bugs are used for in-flight refueling. I wouldn't imagine they'd use the G's to do that.