Bill Carey

Boeing’s Super Hornet production line in St. Louis, Mo., would be sustained until 2017 if the U.S. Navy receives the 22 EA-18G Growler electronic warfare variants it seeks on a list of “unfunded” priorities the service has submitted to Congress. Industry and government analyses show a need for 50 to 100 more Growlers, Boeing contends.


The Navy sought 21 EA-18Gs in the current fiscal year, increasing the program of record to 135 aircraft. Its budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2015, which begins in October, contains no funding for Growlers. However, the service included 22 additional EA-18Gs on a list of unfunded priorities it submitted to Congress on April 1. It also seeks $12 million to start development of the second increment of the <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ain-defense-perspective/2013-07-12/raytheon-will-develop-next-generation-jammer">Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) pod</a> that will replace the ALQ-99 tactical jamming system on the Growler, USNI News reported.


“Given the environment we’re moving into…that type of airplane plays a major role,” Capt. Frank Morley, F/A-18 and EA-18G program manager, told reporters April 7 at the Navy League Sea-Air-Space conference. “As you look at all those needs and all that platform can bring to the equation, you start realizing you can use those a lot more and you continue to ID places where they can benefit.”


Mike Gibbons, Boeing’s program vice president, said the Navy has a “real need and desire” to increase the number of Growlers its airborne electronic attack squadrons fly to eight&nbsp;from five, which it would not achieve with the 22 new aircraft. “Boeing’s assessment is that the real need is going to be for somewhere between 50 and 100 more” to support Navy and joint services operations, he said, describing the multi-spectral threat environment expected in 2028. “That’s why we see the 22 Growlers as actually a bridge to future requirements.”


The Navy will take delivery of its final F/A-18E/F Super Hornets from Boeing in FY2015. Current plans call for the company to deliver the final EA-18Gs in 2016, along with 12 new-build Growlers the Royal Australian Air Force ordered last year. The 22 additional Growlers from the Navy’s unfunded priorities list would extend the production line to 2017, Gibbons said.


Last summer, Boeing demonstrated a stealthy, longer-range <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ain-defense-perspective/2013-08-30/boeing-flies-advanced-super-hornet-demonstrator">“Advanced Super Hornet” upgrade</a>, flying an F/A-18F with representative conformal fuel tanks and enclosed weapons pod. Morley termed the demonstration a success. It “did meet our expectations,” he said. “The measurements we were able to get on signature reduction, the flying qualities, the drag counts, the conformal fuel tank shapes, were spot-on predictions. We met all the objectives of that [demonstration] and the data were very favorable. One, [the upgrade is] possible; two, we can get the benefit we think we want out of it; and three, we made some steps in risk reduction and learned some things.”


The Navy could seek some or all of the components of the Advanced Super Hornet upgrade, Morley said. “Because it’s a retrofittable solution, it’s not necessarily all or nothing,” he allowed. Still “undetermined” is whether the Navy will order an F414-GE-400 “enhanced engine” upgrade that GE Aviation is pursuing for the Super Hornet.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Navy's 'Unfunded' Order Would Extend EA-18G Growler Line

Current plans call for Boeing to deliver the final EA-18Gs in 2016, but the 22 Growlers the Navy requested would extend that through 2017.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Baykar intends to preserve Piaggio’s identity and ‘relaunch’ the company 

Turkey's Baykar Receives Italian Nod To Buy Piaggio

Curt Epstein

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

The group is working to restore the first production Lear Jet to flight.

DAS Aviation Signs On as Classic Lear Jet Sponsor

AmyWilder

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Acquisition strengthens Woodward’s aircraft technology portfolio 

Woodward, Safran Ink Deal for Electromechanical Assets

Matt Thurber

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Company president Jason Huang resigns and Lily Hu takes over

Icon Aircraft Moving Some Manufacturing to China

An average of seven Vision Jets per month were delivered during the first three quarters of this year

Cirrus Delivers 600th Vision Jet Since 2016 Market Entry

Charles Alcock

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Latest prototype of the two-seater now features improved rotors 

Volocopter Makes Final Push Toward eVTOL Aircraft Type Certification

Hanneke Weitering

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Agreement covers up to 12 of the Alia-250 model and is Beta's second sale in New Zealand

New Zealand Air Ambulance Service Orders Beta's eVTOL Aircraft

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

More In Aircraft