[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] The US Navy's Unmanned Combat Aircraft Project 'Growler'

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] Interest is growing in the capabilities of the EA-18G Growler as the U.S. Navy successfully conducted an experiment remotely controlling two Growlers from other aircraft.

According to Boeing on the 8th, the U.S. Navy completed 21 training missions by remotely piloting two EA-18G Growlers from other aircraft at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland late last year. Although backup pilots were onboard the two Growlers for safety, the actual control was conducted remotely from separate nearby aircraft.

The U.S. Navy is pursuing remote control of the Growler to protect fighter pilots' lives, as the Growler is the first to enter enemy territory during wartime. The Growler is a two-seat electronic warfare attack aircraft based on the F/A-18F Super Hornet and is the successor to the long-range electronic warfare EF-111 Raven since 1998. Flying at Mach 1.8 with a combat radius of 722 km, the Growler is equipped with AN/ALQ-99F jamming pods, AN/APG-79 multifunctional AESA radar, AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, and AGM-88 anti-radar missiles, enabling it to disrupt or destroy various enemy radars. It flies at 1.8 times the speed of sound with a combat radius reaching 1,095 km.

One of the world's most powerful existing electronic warfare aircraft U.S. Navy deploys first into enemy territory Experimenting with unmanned control to protect fighter pilots Japan also accelerating Growler acquisition

The Growler, considered one of the world's most powerful electronic warfare aircraft, first flew in August 2006 and over 160 units have been produced to date. While introducing the F-35C, the U.S. Navy also purchased F/A-18E Super Hornets and Growler electronic warfare aircraft to secure a backup system in case of issues with the F-35. Australia operates a similar force and is the only country to which the U.S. has exported the Growler alongside the F-35.

The Growler also has extensive combat experience. It was deployed from late 2009 and participated in the 2011 March Libya airstrike operation, Operation Odyssey Dawn. In 2017, it took part in Vigilant ACE, the largest joint air exercise ever conducted.

The Republic of Korea Air Force also reviewed Boeing's F-15SE Silent Eagle during its third phase of the next-generation fighter (FX) project and reportedly requested export approval for the U.S. Navy’s EF-18 (Growler) for electronic warfare purposes. At the time, there were rumors within and outside the military that if the FX phase 3 budget was reduced, it might be possible to acquire 12 Growlers.

In June 2016, the U.S. Pacific Fleet deployed two aircraft carriers for a show of force related to the South China Sea dispute and simultaneously stationed four electronic warfare attack aircraft in the Philippines. According to the U.S. military publication Stars and Stripes, the Seventh Fleet under the Pacific Fleet, responsible for the South China Sea, temporarily deployed a detachment (the 138th Expeditionary Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron) consisting of four E/A-18G Growler electronic warfare attack aircraft and 120 support personnel at Clark Air Base in the Philippines.

Japan is also accelerating its Growler acquisition. The Growler was included in Japan’s 2019?2023 Mid-Term Defense Program. Currently, Japan possesses measurement and training aircraft that collect radio wave information but does not have attack aircraft. Japan’s acquisition of electronic warfare attack aircraft is partly a response to China’s establishment of the Strategic Support Force responsible for electronic warfare and its efforts to deploy electronic attack aircraft. Adopting a policy of exclusive defense (defense only when attacked), the Japanese government relies on the U.S. for attacking enemy bases.