PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION, Md. -- The Navy’s newest airborne electronic attack vehicle, the EA-18G Growler, was given a hardy “Welcome Aboard” by the commander of the Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet, during a dedication ceremony June 3 at NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.

Capt. Bradley S. Russell, Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter and Congressman Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) were among the more than 800 guests who attended the historic event.

“The conduct of air defense has gotten a bit more complicated today with our fleet’s acceptance of the first EA-18G Growler,” said Winter. “This platform is a direct threat to current and potential enemies, and it represents a quantum advance in warfare capabilities in the electronic domain.”

As a result of an Analysis of Alternatives that was conducted in 2001, the Department of the Navy made a decision to selected the EA-18G Growler to replace the EA-6B Prowler, which has been in service since 1971, said Capt. Mark Darrah, F/A-18 and EA-18G program manger.

“The EA-18G Growler is a carrier-based, electronic warfare version of the F/A-18F Super Hornet Block II and will fly the Navy’s airborne electronic attack mission,” said Darrah. “The EA-18G combines the capability of the Super Hornet with the latest airborne electronic attack avionics suite evolved from the Improved Capability III system. Its vast array of sensors and weapons provides the warfighter with a lethal and survivable weapon system to counter current and emerging threats.”

The flexibility, maneuverability and capabilities of the Growler meet the challenges of today’s threat environment, and the platform is forecasted to serve the Department of the Navy well into the 21st Century.

“This investment is what we needed,” said Russell. “This ain’t your father’s Oldsmobile.”

Training for the Growler, which was delivered on cost and ahead of schedule, will be conducted at the Electronic Airborne Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 at Whidbey. The next installment delivery of the Growler, to the squadron, is scheduled for September.

To date, the Navy has delivered six EA-18Gs. EA-1 and EA-2 are engineering development models used to support developmental test, and the first three production aircraft, G1-G3, were used for developmental and operational test.

Operational evaluation of the platform is scheduled to begin in September, and the first EA-18G squadron is scheduled for January 2009.

The Navy currently plans to purchase 85 Growlers, said Darrah.

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Photo Cutline: Capt. Bradley S. Russell, commander of the Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet, delivers his speech during the EA-18G Growler Dedication Ceremony June 3 at Whidbey Island. Also on hand for the historic event were the Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter and Congressman Rick Larsen (D-Wash.). More than 800 guests were on hand to see the Navy’s newest airborne electronic attack vehicle be accepted by Russell. (Photo courtesy of Boeing)