Thursday, May 8, 2014

Boeing touts its Growler aircraft

Boeing touts its Growler aircraft: Boeing reports it has delivered its 100th EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft to the U.S. Navy on cost and on schedule.

"Today (Monday) we celebrated 100 Growler deliveries -- all on cost and on schedule -- and highlighted the need for additional Growlers in the future so our men and women in uniform can prosecute their missions in the safest, most effective way possible," said Mike Gibbons, Boeing's F/A-18 and EA-18G Programs vice president. "We believe there is a compelling case to be made that the Navy needs 50 to 100 more aircraft to meet future requirements."

The Growler is a derivative of the F/A-18F Super Hornet, providing tactical jamming and electronic protection for U.S. forces. Growlers provide a unique capability to nearly all U.S. combat missions and are expected to be in service until at least 2040.

The U.S. Navy has 22 Growlers on its unfunded priorities list for the 2015 fiscal year budget and current orders take Growler and Super Hornet production through the end of 2016. But there is a question as to whether Congress will fund procurement of the aircraft.