, CRANE, Ind.(DefenceTalk): The Navy’s EA-18G Growler aircraft reached a major milestone Jan. 24, completing its Jammer Flight Test successfully at Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), Patuxent River.
The EA-18G Growler aircraft will replace the aging EA-6B Prowler as the Navy’s manned air platform for electronic attack. Initial operation capability for the EA-18G is scheduled for 2009.
“My personal thanks to everyone on the EA-18G team that has been working ALQ-99 integration for the last few weeks/months/years,” said Cmdr. Jaime W. Engdahl, EA-18G department head, VX-23, Naval Air Station, Patuxent River.
“Your efforts in design, simulation, software development, lab, and chamber testing were very evident by the ease at which we progressed through the flight cards. We exercised all available jamming types for Build 1.5 in Bands 7/8/9, all aspects of the system worked as advertised, and we saw no notable EMC issues. No surprises. Once again I am amazed by the ability of the EA-18G Team to accomplish major Program Milestones ahead of plan.”
Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC Crane) is the cognizant Technical Authority for the AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System (TJS) Pod and is teamed with Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and NAWC Point Mugu to integrate the AN/ALQ-99 TJS Pod on the EA-18G. This effort has involved the development of significant electrical and structural modifications to the ALQ-99 components, including the development of the Pod Interface Unit.
To accomplish these initial flight tests, two years of extensive environmental, flight performance, and integration testing were performed at Crane, Boeing (St. Louis), NAWC Point Mugu and NAWC Patuxent River.
The EA-18G Growler is on schedule to become the Navy’s next EA manned aircraft. The successful EA-18G Jammer Flight Test is a significant accomplishment for the program because it is one of the six criteria needed to support a Milestone C decision in April 2007. The EA-18G Jammer Flight Test is also a significant accomplishment for personnel at NSWC Crane who support the EA-18G program, but more importantly, the warfighter.
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