Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD - The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) announces it received Milestone B approval to proceed into System Development and Demonstration (SD&D) of the EA-18G Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) Aircraft. Approval was granted on Thursday, December 18, 2003 by Mr. Michael Wynne, the Acting Under Secretary of Defense, (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics).

Mrs. Lisa Nyalko, Deputy Program Manager for the EA-18G said, “This is a truly momentous occasion for the entire NAVAIR/Industry EA-18G team. From program initiation, to SD&D approval, and an imminent contract award in less than one year, the team’s dedicated efforts speak highly of the future of Naval aviation.”

The EA-18G contract team received its first Pre-SD&D contract in September 2002 to support preparation efforts for the SD&D phase. A contract award for SD&D is now expected shortly. The 5-year SD&D program is expected to run from FY04 until mid FY09 and encompasses all laboratory, ground test, and flight tests from component level testing through full-up EA-18G weapons system performance flight-testing.

The EA-18G will provide the warfighter with an abundance of operational flexibility. It can carry up to five ALQ-99 jamming pods and will typically add one to two AIM-120 self-defense missiles and one to two AGM-88 High Speed Anti-Radiation (HARM) missiles. The EA-18G has a high degree of commonality with the F/A-18F Super Hornet and is expected to significantly reduce support and training costs for the U.S. Navy’s carrier electronic attack community. Combining two proven systems, the F/A-18F and the Improved Capability III (ICAP III) upgrade, enables the U.S. Navy to leverage ongoing investments and allows an initial operational capability in 2009.

“This is the latest spiral in the evolutionary development of the F/A-18,” said Rear Admiral James B. Godwin III, Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft. “The EA-18G will provide a much needed replacement for the aging Prowler fleet as we continue to meet our electronic attack commitment.

NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From professional training to carrier launch; from sensor data to precision targeting; from aircraft and weapons development to successful deployment; from real-time communication to aircraft recovery, NAVAIR provides dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to the American warfighter.

For more information about the EA-18G program please contact Denise Deon Wilson, Public Affairs Officer for PEO-T at 301-481-6263 or [email protected].
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