The Northrop GrummanEA-6B Prowler is a twin-engine, four-seat, mid-wing electronic-warfare aircraft derived from the A-6 Intruder airframe. The EA-6A was the initial electronic warfare version of the A-6 used by the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy; it was used during the Vietnam War. Development on the more advanced EA-6B began in 1966. An EA-6B aircrew consisted of one pilot and three Electronic Countermeasures Officers, though it was not uncommon for only two ECMOs to be used on missions. It was capable of carrying and firing anti-radiation missiles (ARMs), such as the AGM-88 HARM.
A ram air turbine (RAT) is a small wind turbine that is connected to a hydraulic pump, or electrical generator, installed in an aircraft and used as a power source. The RAT generates power from the airstream by ram pressure due to the speed of the aircraft. It may be called an air driven generator (ADG) on some aircraft.
Electronic Attack Squadron 129 (VAQ-129) is the United States Navy's only EA-18G Growler training squadron. Known as the "Vikings", they are a Fleet Replacement Squadron, or FRS, and are charged with training all EA-18G aviators and developing standard operating procedures for the maintenance and operation of the aircraft. The squadron is permanently stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, in Puget Sound, Washington.
The Boeing EA-18G Growler is an American carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, a specialized version of the two-seat Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet. The EA-18G replaced the Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowlers in service with the United States Navy. The Growler's electronic warfare capability is primarily provided by Northrop Grumman. The EA-18G began production in 2007 and entered operational service with the US Navy in late 2009. Australia has also purchased thirteen EA-18Gs, which entered service with the Royal Australian Air Force in 2017.
An electronic countermeasure (ECM) is an electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar, or other detection systems, like infrared (IR) or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting information to an enemy. The system may make many separate targets appear to the enemy, or make the real target appear to disappear or move about randomly. It is used effectively to protect aircraft from guided missiles. Most air forces use ECM to protect their aircraft from attack. It has also been deployed by military ships and recently on some advanced tanks to fool laser/IR guided missiles. It is frequently coupled with stealth advances so that the ECM systems have an easier job. Offensive ECM often takes the form of jamming. Self-protecting (defensive) ECM includes using blip enhancement and jamming of missile terminal homers.
Electronic Attack Squadron 135 (VAQ-135), known as the "Black Ravens", is a United States Navy electronic attack squadron that currently operates the EA-18G Growler carrier-based electronic warfare jet aircraft. The squadron is permanently stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island with a radio callsign of "Thunder".
Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems (NGES) was a business segment of Northrop Grumman from 1996 to 2015, until a reorganization on January 1 2016 merged other Northrop Grumman businesses into NGES to form a new segment called Mission Systems. NGES had originally been created by Northrop Grumman's acquisition of Westinghouse Electronic Systems Group in 1996. The Electronic Systems sector was a designer, developer, and manufacturer of a wide variety of advanced defense electronics and systems. The division had 120 locations worldwide, including 72 international offices, and approximately 24,000 employees; accounting for 20% of company sales in 2005.
Electromagnetic Attack Squadron 137 (VAQ-137) also known as the "Rooks", is a United States Navy electromagnetic attack squadron based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Washington, flying the Boeing EA-18G Growler. The squadron is attached to Carrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11), which is currently assigned to USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). Their radio callsign is "Rook" and their tailcode is "NH" of CVW-11.
Electronic Attack Squadron 136 (VAQ-136) "Gauntlets" is a United States Navy Electronic attack squadron flying the EA-18G Growler and is currently attached to Carrier Air Wing Two, deploy aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson a composite unit made up of a wide array of aircraft performing a variety of combat and support missions including F2T2EA. The squadron is currently stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
The General Dynamics–Grumman EF-111A Raven is a retired electronic-warfare aircraft designed to replace the EB-66 Destroyer in the United States Air Force. Its crews and maintainers often called it the "Spark-Vark", a play on the F-111's "Aardvark" nickname.
The AN/ALQ-144, AN/ALQ-147, and AN/ALQ-157 are US infrared guided missile countermeasure devices (IRCM). They were developed by Sanders Associates in the 1970s to counter the threat of infrared guided surface-to-air missiles like the 9K32 Strela-2. While decoy flares were effective at jamming first generation infra-red guided missiles, each flare was only effective for a short period. If an aircraft needed to loiter over a high risk area or was flying slowly, it would require a large number of flares to decoy any missile fired at it. The IRCM provided constant protection against infra-red guided missiles.
Electromagnetic Attack Squadron 142 (VAQ-142), also known as "The Gray Wolves", is an EA-18G Growler squadron of the United States Navy stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, Washington. Their tailcode is AJ and their ATC callsign is "GRIM".
Electromagnetic Attack Squadron 139 (VAQ-139), also known as the "Cougars", is an EA-18G Growler squadron of the United States Navy. They specialize in electromagnetic attack and are currently stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. Part of Carrier Air Wing Seventeen, the Cougars deploy aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz
The 390th Electronic Combat Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho and stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.
Electronic Attack Squadron 209 (VAQ-209) is a United States Navy Reserve electromagnetic attack squadron. Known as the "Star Warriors", the squadron flies the EA-18G Growler carrier-based electronic warfare jet aircraft. It is assigned to the Tactical Support Wing and based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. Its mission is: "To safely train to attain and maintain mobilization readiness for immediate employment in event of war or national emergency." The squadron's radio callsign is "Vader".
Electronic Attack Squadron 131 (VAQ-131), also known as the "Lancers," is a United States Navy tactical jet aircraft squadron specializing in kinetic and non-kinetic Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD). They are based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, flying the EA-18G Growler. Their radio callsign is "Pilum."
Electronic Attack Squadron 134 (VAQ-134) is an electromagnetic warfare squadron of the United States Navy. It is nicknamed "Garudas" and is based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. The squadron is currently equipped with the Boeing EA-18G Growler.
An electronic-warfare aircraft is a military aircraft equipped for electronic warfare (EW), that is, degrading the effectiveness of enemy radar and radio systems by using radar jamming and deception methods.
The Next Generation Jammer is a program to develop an airborne electronic warfare system, as a replacement for the AN/ALQ-99 found on the EA-18G Growler military aircraft. It reached Initial Operating Capability in 2021.
The AN/ALQ-218 is an American airborne electronic warfare radar warning receiver (RWR) system, found on Grumman/Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler and Boeing EA-18G Growler aircraft.
