Boeing has conducted fit checks with ALQ-99 tactical jamming system pods on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, as it continues to promote a variant of the aircraft, dubbed the F-18G Growler, to replace the US Navy's Northrop Grumman EA-6B.
Although a decision on replacing the EA-6B will not occur until the US Department of Defense completes an analysis of alternatives at the end of next year, Boeing is continuing risk-reduction work on an electronic attack F/A-18.
"If a manned aircraft is a solution, and the navy retains the lead, then it has to be carrier-based and the F/A-18F is the logical choice," says programme general manager Pat Finneran. As an interim step, the company is proposing the existing ALQ-99 jamming pods be transferred from the EA-6B to the two-seat F/A-18F. The resulting configuration would not have the range or loiter capability of the EA-6B Prowler, Boeing admits.
The aircraft would be able to use the electronic countermeasures capabilities of the active-array radar planned for the F/A-18E/F, Boeing says. Later, a new supersonic electronic attack pod would be developed combining the functions of three ALQ-99 pods, which would allow the F-18G to keep pace with US Air Force and Navy strike aircraft.
Source: Flight International
