Issue 292: Growler

Decision time for a RAAF EA-18G buy

The Australian government is believed to be close to finalising a decision to acquire airborne electronic attack (AEA) EA-18G Growlers for the RAAF. The likely decision follows the decision to pre-configure 12 of the RAAF’s 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets while in production to make a possible future Growler conversion easier and less invasive.

It is believed Defence has recommended six Growler ‘kits’ be acquired from the US under an FMS arrangement through the US Navy and that the submission will be considered at April’s meetings of the National Security and National Accounts Committees.