The Boeing EA-18G Growler is a specialized airborne electronic attack (AEA) aircraft developed for the United States Navy to replace the EA-6B Prowler. As the first newly designed dedicated AEA aircraft in over 35 years, the Growler is unique for being the only carrier-capable aircraft of its type, allowing it to operate from both land bases and U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. The aircraft was developed by a Boeing-led industry team, with Northrop Grumman providing the majority of the electronic warfare suite, including the ALQ-99 jamming pods.
Production of the System Design & Development (SDD) prototypes began in October 2004 at Boeing's facility in St. Louis, Missouri. The prototype aircraft first took flight on August 15, 2006, followed by the first production model's flight on September 10, 2007, from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport. The U.S. Navy achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in September 2009, and the first operational deployment occurred in November 2010 with VAQ-132. The Growler saw its first combat action during Operation Odyssey Dawn in Libya in 2011.
Technically, the EA-18G is based on the F/A-18F Super Hornet airframe, combining the performance of a multirole strike-fighter with an integrated electronic warfare suite. It is powered by two General Electric F414-GE-400 afterburning turbofans, providing approximately 13,000 lbf of dry thrust and 22,000 lbf with afterburner per engine. The aircraft is designed for a crew of two, consisting of a pilot and an Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO).
In addition to the U.S. Navy, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) operates 12 EA-18G aircraft within No. 6 Squadron, based at RAAF Base Amberley. Australia was the first country outside the United States to operate the type, declaring its own IOC in April 2019. Production began with SDD jets in 2004 and transitioned to full-rate production after 2007, remaining active at least into the late 2010s.