US Navy has begun carrier suitability testing for the Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft using a modified F/A-18E/F Super Hornet equipped with wingtip receiver antennas and high- and low-band jamming pods. The first of two development EA-18Gs is scheduled to fly for the first time in August.
The three-month, 25-flight tests are being conducted at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland and include catapult launches and arrested landings on a simulated carrier deck. In addition to assessing flying qualities in the configurations planned for the EA-18G, the tests will measure aircraft loads to verify that the undercarriage and airframe meet the specifications for the Growler’s higher landing weights.
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Source: Flight International
