Growler is go

White Paper confirms new-build EA-18Gs, F-35 commitment

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Minister for Defence Stephen Smith announced on May 3 that Australia will buy 12 new-build Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft via a US Government Foreign Military Sales (FMS) arrangement.

The announcement was made as part of the public unveiling of the 2013 Defence White Paper in which the government also affirmed its commitment to acquire at least 72 F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, declaring plans for the first of three F-35 squadrons to be operational from 2020.