http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/2008-01-02/1026479351.html
美五角大樓部分人士希望空軍能購買EA-18G

http://www.sina.com.cn 2008年01月02日 10:26 中國航空信息網

　　美國《航宇日報》2008年1月2日報導 　　據美國工業界和五角大樓的消息稱，一直懸而未決的美國空軍電子戰飛機計畫最近似乎取得部分進展，五角大樓的部分人士正在推動空軍購買原來為美國海軍設計的EA-18G "咆哮者(Growler)"電子戰飛機。

　　在此之前，美國空軍一直企圖在老舊的B-52轟炸機基礎上改造一種空中電子干擾平臺，但是該計畫相關費用已經上升至大約70億美元，對五角大樓目前日益緊張的經費預算來說顯得太昂貴了。美國空軍負責採辦的官員Donald Hoffman中將證實了五角大樓部分人員正在推動空軍購買EA-18G的說法，但他同時指出EA-18G可能不太適合美國空軍的需要，因為空軍正在計畫把目前的F-15和F-16戰鬥機機隊轉變為一支全隱身戰鬥機機隊。Hoffman表示，將來由聯合攻擊戰鬥機改型發展一種電子戰飛機是很自然的事，但是美國空軍在近期內仍然需要一種類似功能的飛機。(陳黎 責編洪山）

EA-18 Growler
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EA-18_Growler

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=3063968&C=airwar
U.S. Navy Takes Delivery of First EA-18G Growler

By ZACHARY M. PETERSON, NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md.
Posted 09/25/07 17:34

The first production EA-18G Growler, the electronics warfare version of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, landed here September 25 after rolling off the assembly line in St. Louis the day before.

The Growler is the replacement for the EA-6B Prowler, which is currently in use.

The aircraft will remain at Pax River for operational and developmental testing until May 2008, when it’s scheduled to be delivered to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.

The new jet is “a quantum leap in airborne electronic attack capability,” said Capt. Paul Overstreet, program manager for the Growler. He cited a laundry list of improvements over the Prowler aircraft that he flew, including the Growler’s AESA radar, improved communication, more firepower — there are 10 weapons stations as opposed to five on the Prowler — and it’s faster and more survivable.

Overstreet compared the delivery of the first Growler to the christening of a new class of ship. The Navy plans to buy 85 Growlers by 2013; the second plane will be delivered in December, and then production is scheduled to speed up. The planes are slated to first deploy with a carrier air wing in 2010.

Navy acquisition czar Delores Etter and Rear Adm. Kenneth Floyd, director of aviation and aircraft carrier plans, were at the ceremony at a Boeing plant in St. Louis at which the aircraft was unveiled.

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2007/q3/070925c_nr.html
Boeing Delivers First Production EA-18G Growler to U.S. Navy

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 25, 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] yesterday delivered the first production EA-18G Growler to the U.S. Navy ahead of schedule and within budget.

"The Growler team put together a program plan that...has remained on cost and schedule, while meeting or exceeding all performance parameters. I don't get to say that very often about our programs," said The Hon. Delores Etter, assistant secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, during the delivery ceremony at Boeing Integrated Defense Systems facilities in St. Louis. "We have a great start to a total procurement of over 80 Gs, which will operate in our fleet for decades to come."

The U.S. armed forces' newest airborne electronic attack (AEA) aircraft combines the Super Hornet's proven airframe and mission systems with a next-generation airborne electronic attack suite. By using the Super Hornet airframe, the EA-18G program and the Navy can leverage the existing capabilities and known reliability and maintainability characteristics of the F/A-18E/F to provide an advanced AEA platform at a fraction of the cost and time of a completely new aircraft. Unlike the two aircraft already in flight test, the EA-18G Growler delivered today was entirely assembled and tested on the same production line as the existing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

"We're very proud today to follow the Super Hornet tradition of delivering on our promises," said Bob Gower, Boeing vice president of F/A-18 programs. "We made a very ambitious promise to our customer in 2003 that we would deliver this aircraft, built on the same line as our Super Hornets, by the end of 2007. We've not only met those promises; our team has found a way to meet every challenge and deliver a cost-effective, incredibly capable product, ahead of schedule."

"Since the rollout in August of '06, the first flight, the software, the flight testing, it's all coming on time, which is a tremendous boon in my world," said U.S. Navy procurement chief Rear Adm. Kenneth Floyd, director, Aviation and Aircraft Carrier Plans and Requirements. "We're glad to have it, and once we get it out in the fleet, we're going to be flying this thing in ways that nobody ever thought possible. A good day for the Navy, a good day for the nation, and I think the only people that might be having a bad day are the people that end up on the business end of this thing's capacity."

The aircraft, dubbed G-1, will join the flight test program at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., before entering fleet service. The Growler is expected to complete flight testing in 2008, followed by initial operational capability in 2009.

Boeing, acting as the weapon system integrator and prime contractor, leads the EA-18G Growler industry team. Northrop Grumman is the principal subcontractor and airborne electronic attack subsystem integrator. The Hornet Industry Team divides EA-18G production across Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Electric and Raytheon manufacturing facilities. Naval Air Systems Command PMA-265 is the U.S. Navy acquisition office for the EA-18G.

http://mil.qianlong.com//37076/2007/09/26/135@4080275.htm
美海軍接受首架EA-18G“咆哮者”電子攻擊機

http://www.qianlong.com/2007-09-26 11:32:06來源：中國新聞網
　　中新網華盛頓9月25日電　據美國防務新聞網25日報導，美國海軍一架EA-18G“咆哮者”電子攻擊機於當地時間9月25日降落在馬里蘭州帕塔克森特河海軍航空站。據悉，這架EA-18G電子攻擊機剛剛於數天前完成生產線組裝工作，在波音公司位於聖路易斯市的生產設施下線。它也是美國海軍接受的首架產品型EA-18G電子攻擊機。

　　EA-18G“咆哮者”電子攻擊機系在美國海軍F/A-18E/F“超級大黃蜂”戰鬥攻擊機的基礎之上發展研製而成。EA-18G不僅擁有新一代電子對抗設備，同時還保留了F/A-18E/F全部武器系統和優異的機動性能，先進的設計使得其無論在航空母艦的飛行甲板上還是在陸地上都能較好地遂行機載電子攻擊(AEA)任務。專家們評價說，“咆哮者”既是當今戰鬥力最強的電子干擾機，又是電子干擾能力最強的戰鬥機，這可以說是對其優異作戰性能的最高褒獎。EA-18G未來將代替目前在美國海軍服役的EA-6B“徘徊者”電子攻擊機。 

　　美國海軍負責武器採購的首席官員德洛麗絲-埃特爾(同時也是負責裝備研究、發展與採辦的海軍部長助理)與負責海軍航空部隊及航空母艦計畫的主管肯尼士-佛洛伊德少將，當天親自出席了首架EA-18G電子攻擊機交付儀式。美國海軍部門介紹說，首架EA-18G“咆哮者”將一直部署在帕塔克森特河海軍航空站直至2008年5月份。在此期間，海軍方面將對其進行作戰性能及後續發展測試。在完成全部測試工作之後，按照海軍方面的日程規劃，這架EA-18G電子攻擊機將前往華盛頓州惠德貝島海軍航空站部署。

　　美國海軍EA-18G“咆哮者”專案主管海軍上校保羅-奧弗斯特裏特(Paul Overstreet)表示，新型EA-18G電子攻擊機是“機載電子攻擊能力的一次巨大飛躍”。奧弗斯特裏特上校曾經是一名EA-6B“徘徊者”電子攻擊機飛行員，他將EA-18G與EA-6B作了一個全面比較，並列舉了EA-18G在EA-6B基礎之上所作的一系列改進，主要包括：“咆哮者”使用了先進的AESA有源電子掃描陣列雷達系統，經過改良的通信系統，以及更為強大的火力系統(EA-18G配備10個武器掛載點，而EA-6B僅配備5個武器掛載點)。此外，EA-18G的飛行速度更快，戰場生存能力也大大強於EA-6B。

　　EA-18G“咆哮者”擁有十分強大的電磁攻擊能力。憑藉諾斯羅普-格魯門公司為其設計的ALQ-218V(2)戰術接收機和新型ALQ-99戰術電子干擾吊艙，EA-18G可以高效地執行對地空導彈雷達系統的壓制任務。與以往攔阻式干擾不同，EA-18G可以通過分析干擾物件的跳頻圖譜自動追蹤其發射頻率，並採用“長基線干涉測量法”對輻射源進行更精確的定位以實現“跟蹤-瞄準式干擾”。此舉大大集中了干擾能量，首度實現了電磁頻譜領域的“精確打擊”。採用上述技術的EA-18G可以有效干擾160公里外的雷達和其他電子設施，超過了任何現役防空火力的打擊範圍。不僅如此，安裝於EA-18G機首和翼尖吊艙內的ALQ-218V(2)戰術接收機還是目前世界上唯一能夠在對敵實施全頻段干擾時仍不妨礙電子監聽功能的系統。

　　奧弗斯特裏特上校表示，首架EA-18G正式交付使用對於美國海軍而言意義重大，與為新一級海軍戰艦舉行命名儀式相比，具有同等重要的地位，是美國海軍發展過程中的一個重要里程碑。他介紹說，美國海軍計畫截至2013年共購買85架EA-18G“徘徊者”電子攻擊機。第二架EA-18G“徘徊者”電子攻擊機將於今年12月份交付，然後按照規劃，波音公司將加速EA-18G的生產進度。美國海軍並初步規劃，EA-18G電子攻擊機將於2010年首次隨一支航母艦載機聯隊進行部署。

http://mil.qianlong.com//37076/2007/09/10/135@4049080.htm
美國海軍準備開始批量生產EA-18G電子攻擊機

http://www.qianlong.com/2007-09-10 11:16:55來源：中國航空信息網

　　美國《國防工業日報》2007年9月3日報導　隨著美國空軍遠端電子干擾機EF-111"渡鴉"的退役，逐漸老化的4座EA-6B"徘徊者"(Prowler)飛機成為美國唯一用於雷達干擾、通信阻塞和信號偵聽等資訊行動的戰術飛機。可以預見這些飛機將會非常忙碌。在伊拉克，它們被用於從開戰之日起就護送攻擊飛機對付重重防護的目標，到阻塞某個地區的無線電信號以破壞敵方的簡易爆炸裝置(IED)攻擊等各種任務。

　　所有的飛機都有服役年限，EA-6B當然也不例外，該飛機50年的機體設計在某種程度上來說是利弊參半。它提供了極大的航程、承載能力和高效的亞音速性能，代價則是缺乏自衛能力，並且很難跟上友機以高亞音速巡航的速度。

　　因此，到2009年一種新的電子戰飛機將按計劃首次亮相，它有著新的機體、很強的自衛能力以及電子戰潛能。EA-18G"咆哮者"是在波音的雙座F/A-18F"超級大黃蜂"多用途戰鬥機基礎研製的(其歷史可以追溯到諾斯羅普的YF-17和麥道的F-18)，並有90%的通用型，正如其前任EA-6B是在格魯門A-6"入侵者"攻擊機基礎上改進而來的一樣。目前，它被指定為美軍未來唯一的專用電子戰飛機，而且美國是西方國家中唯一有這種飛機的國家，EA-18G也將成為整個北約空軍戰術干擾支援的唯一來源。

　　《國防工業日報》針對美國EA-18G項目的專題文章將對飛機和關鍵系統以及專案概況進行描述，並繼續追蹤其正在進行的研發和合同等對專案有影響的因素。最新消息包括價值1.35億美元的合同，以及美國準備開始EA-18G的批量生產。

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/ea18g-program-the-usas-electronic-growler-02427/#more
EA-18G Program: The USA's Electronic Growler

03-Sep-2007 16:07 | Permanent Link

With the retirement of the US Air Force's long-range EF-111 Raven "Spark 'Vark," the aging 4-seat EA-6B Prowlers are now the USA's sole remaining tactical aircraft type for radar jamming, communications jamming and information operations like signals interception. They've been predictably busy as a result. In Iraq, they've been used for everything from escorting strike aircraft against heavily defended targets during the opening days of the war, to disrupting enemy IED attacks by jamming all radio signals in an area.

All airframes have lifespan limits, however, and the EA-6B is no exception. The aircraft's 50 year old airframe design is also something of a mixed blessing. It offers excellent range, carrying capacity, and efficient subsonic performance – at the expense of poor self-defense capabilities, and difficulty keeping up with friendly aircraft traveling at high subsonic speeds.

By 2009, therefore, a new electronic warfare aircraft is scheduled to make its appearance – one based on a new airframe, with strong self-defense capabilities as well as electronic attack potential. The EA-18G Growler is based on Boeing's 2-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet multi-role fighter (which traces its history from the Northrop YF-17 and McDonnell Douglas F-18) and has 90% commonality, just as its predecessor the EA-6B was based on Grumman's robust A-6 Intruder attack aircraft. At present, it is slated to be the only dedicated electronic warfare aircraft in the USA's future force – and since the USA is the only western country with such aircraft, the EA-18G would be the sole source of tactical jamming support for NATO air forces as a whole.

This is DID's focus article for the USA's EA-18G Program, describing the aircraft and key systems, outlining the program, and keeping track of ongoing developments, contracts, et. al. that affect the program. New items will be highlighted via green type. The latest items involve $135 million in contracts, as the USA gets ready to open the throttle on EA-18G production…

http://mil.qianlong.com//37076/2007/07/23/198@3961233.htm
美國防部批准量產EA-18G電子攻擊機

http://www.qianlong.com/2007-07-23 10:34:35來源：中國航空信息網

　　美國《航宇日報》2007年7月19日報導 美國海軍未來航空電子戰網路的主力機種——EA-18G“咆哮者”飛機已正式通過其里程碑C的評審，7月17日五角大樓批准其進入低速初生產。

　　E/A-18G是美海軍用於替代EA-6B“徘徊者”空中電子攻擊飛機的新機型，它採用了F-18“大黃蜂”的機身和發展自“徘徊者”機上系統的電子戰(EW)感測器包。

　　“咆哮者”的EW吊艙包含了ALQ-218、ALQ-99和USQ-113的能力。該機還具有空中電子攻擊(AEA)能力，能對敵方發射器實施探測、識別、定位和抑制。該機能增近國家、戰場和攻擊作戰裝備間的聯繫，並為機載抑制武器和高速反輻射導彈(HARM)的部署提供發射器的有效精確瞄準。

　　使用“咆哮者”優於“徘徊者”的一個優勢是EA-18G具有和其他作戰飛機一樣的速度。EA-18與F/A-18F“超級大黃蜂”大體相同，只有2處例外：飛機翼尖位置安裝了接收天線；機炮用內裝有LR-700接收機和衛星通信設備的航電系統盒替代。(中國航空信息中心 吳蔚)

編輯：方欣

http://mil.qianlong.com/4919/2007/05/28/135@3861296.htm
美軍首架生產型EA-18G戰機中/後機身部件交付

http://www.qianlong.com/2007-05-28 09:27:26來源：中國航空信息網

　　英國《防務新聞》2007年5月17日報導　諾斯羅普•格魯門公司已經交付了美國海軍下一代電子攻擊機EA-18G"咆哮者(Growler)"首架生產型配置的驗證機的中/後機身部件。

　　該機身長30英尺(9.14m)，從雙垂尾的頂部算起，高18英尺(5.5m)。該部件於4月份在諾斯羅普•格魯門的El Segundo 工廠的F/A-18生產線上製造完成。諾斯羅普•格魯門公司在加州南部只保留了兩條戰鬥機生產線。

　　EA-18G原型是F/A-18E/F"超大黃蜂"海軍艦載機。近30年來，諾斯羅普•格魯門公司是F/A-18所有型號製造商--波音公司的主要子承包商。諾斯羅普•格魯門公司之前曾交付兩架"咆哮者"飛行試驗機的機身部件，最近交付的是該專案系統開發及驗證階段所需4架中的第一架。

　　EA-18G計畫於2010年末開始代替EA-6B"徘徊者(Prowler)"，成為美國唯一的有人駕駛電子攻擊機。正如諾斯羅普•格魯門公司製造的"徘徊者"，"咆哮者"將具有諾斯羅普•格魯門公司機載電子攻擊系統，能夠執行監視及電子攻擊敵方雷達、通信網路和其他易利用電子破壞及控制的有威脅的設備。

　　"咆哮者"的電子攻擊設備是在先進改進能力III (Improved Capability (ICAP))系統上開發出來的，該系統是由諾斯羅普•格魯門公司為EA-6B而開發的。EA-18G的效力將通過先進感測器和F/A-18E/F武器能力得到增強。

　　諾斯羅普•格魯門公司綜合系統部生產並集成了中/後機身以及相關的F/A-18和EA-18G 子系統。每個機身部件都是從El Segundo 工廠交付到波音的聖路易斯工廠。

　　諾斯羅普•格魯門公司還是EA-18G機載電子攻擊系統集成商，這部分業務在紐約的Bethpage分部完成，是與波音簽訂的另一項合同。

　　波音公司作為武器系統綜合商和主合同商，領導諾斯羅普•格魯門公司、通用電氣公司和雷聲公司共同完成EA-18G 的生產。該專案的系統開發和驗證階段將隨著2009年形成初始作戰能力而結束。

　　海軍目前的計畫是購買84架EA-18G。"徘徊者"的服役期限估計要維持到2015年。

編輯：小薇

http://mil.qianlong.com/4919/2007/04/10/135@3774126.htm
美海軍EA-18G電子戰機完成干擾機飛行測試

http://www.qianlong.com/2007-04-10 08:51:42來源：艦船知識網路版

　　據美國海軍空戰中心2007年3月15日發佈 美國海軍EA-18G“咆哮者”飛機日前成功完成干擾機飛行測試。

　　EA-18G“咆哮者”飛機將取代EA-6B“徘徊者”，成為美國海軍新的有人空中電子攻擊平臺，預計於2009年達到初始作戰能力。

　　美國海軍水面作戰中心與波音公司、諾思羅普•格魯曼公司以及美國海軍空戰中心組成技術團隊，將AN/ALQ-99戰術干擾系統吊艙集成到EA-18G上。

　　在完成這些初始飛行測試之前，該團隊已經進行了為期2年的環境、飛行性能以及集成測試。

　　EA-18G“咆哮者”將成為美國海軍下一代載人電子攻擊機。EA-18G 干擾機飛行測試的成功對專案實施非常重要。

編輯：小薇

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2006/q4/061129a_nr.html
Boeing Delivers Second EA-18G Growler to U.S. Navy

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 29, 2006 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has delivered the second EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack (AEA) aircraft to the U.S. Navy test site at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Md.

The second EA-18G, known as aircraft EA-2, made the flight from St. Louis to Maryland with U.S. Navy pilot Cmdr. Jack Waters and weapons system operator Lt. Cmdr. Jonathan Williams on board. EA-2 is the second of two test aircraft built under a System Development and Demonstration contract Boeing signed with the Navy on Dec. 29, 2003. The first EA-18G, EA-1, currently is undergoing electromagnetic testing in an anechoic chamber at NAS Patuxent River.

"Delivering this aircraft sets the stage for our aggressive flight test program," said Kevin Fogarty, Boeing EA-18G chief engineer. "We already are getting vital information from EA-1 in the chamber, and we look forward to the next step in flight test, where we can use EA-2 to test even more of the capabilities the Growler brings to the AEA community and the Navy."

A derivative of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet, the EA-18Gâ?˜s highly flexible design enables warfighters to perform an array of AEA missions, operating from either the deck of an aircraft carrier or land-based fields. The EA-18G will replace the Navy's current AEA platform, the EA-6B Prowler, which has been in service since 1971. The first production Growler will join the Navy's aircraft fleet in 2008.

Boeing, acting as the weapon system integrator and prime contractor, leads the EA-18G Growler industry team. Northrop Grumman is the principal subcontractor and airborne electronic attack subsystem integrator. The Hornet Industry Team will divide EA-18G production across Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Electric and Raytheon manufacturing facilities. The System Design and Development program concludes with an Initial Operational Capability in 2009. Naval Air Systems Command PMA-265 is the U.S. Navy acquisition office for the EA-18G.