The Boeing EA-18G Growler is an American carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, a specialized version of the two-seat 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 twelve EA-18Gs, which entered service with the Royal Australian Air Force in 2017.

On November 15th, 2001, Boeing successfully completed an initial flight demonstration of F/A-18F "F-1" fitted with the ALQ-99 electronic warfare system to serve as the EA-18 Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) concept aircraft. In December 2003, the US Navy awarded a development contract for the EA-18G to Boeing. As primary contractor, Boeing was to construct the forward fuselage, wings and perform the final assembly. Northrop Grumman was the principal air frame subcontractor and they would supply the center and aft fuselage as well as the principal electronic combat system. In 2003, the Navy expected to receive 90 EA-18Gs.

The first EA-18G test aircraft entered production on October 22nd, 2004. The first test aircraft, known as EA-1, was rolled out on August 3rd, 2006, before making its maiden flight at St. Louis on August 15th, 2006; it was later ferried to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland on September 22nd, 2006. EA-1 primarily supports ground testing in the Air Combat Environment Test and Evaluation Facility (ACETEF) anechoic chamber.

The second aircraft (EA-2) first flew on November 10th, 2006, and was delivered to NAS Patuxent River on November 29th, 2006. EA-2 is an AEA flight test aircraft, initially flying on Pax River's Atlantic Test Range (ATR) for developmental test of the AEA system before transitioning to the Electronic Combat Range (ECR, or 'Echo Range') in Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California. Both aircraft are assigned to VX-23 "Salty Dogs". EA-1 and EA-2 are F/A-18Fs F-134 and F-135, pulled from the St. Louis production line and modified by Boeing to the EA-18G configuration. However, since they were not built initially as Growlers, the Navy has designated these two test aircraft as NEA-18Gs. There were five Growlers flying in the flight test program as of June 2008

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale diecast replica of a US Navy Boeing E/A-18G Growler Electronic Warfare Aircraft that was attached to VAQ-139 "Cougars", then deployed to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, during 2025. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 7-1/2-inches
Length: 9-inches

Release Date: March 2026

Historical Account: "Cougars" - During 2016, VAQ-139 participated in five major detachments and several maintenance detachments to support the needs of the fleet. These include two carrier qualification detachments, two to Nellis AFB, NV to participate in exercises with the USAF, and a detachment to NAS Fallon, NV in support of Electronic Warfare Advanced Readiness Program (EWARP) with the Electronic Attack Weapons School. In 2016 the Cougars totaled 1014 sorties, flying 1478.5 mishap free hours, and completing 120 Growler Weapons and Tactics Program (GWTP) events becoming again the recipients of the Navy's Aviation Battle Efficiency Award (Battle "E"), for Pacific Fleet embarked Electronic Attack Squadrons.

The Cougars spent much of 2017 preparing for their upcoming deployment on board USS Theodore Roosevelt as part of Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW 17). The Cougars successfully Carrier Qualified (CQ) all nine of its pilots on board Theodore Roosevelt in January following a short Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) detachment in NAF El Centro, California. During April and May the Cougars spent five weeks underway participating in Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA) where aircrew gained valuable experience operating both underway and integrating with the Air Wing. This experience proved vital in enabling the Cougar's success during four weeks of Air Wing Fallon in NAS Fallon, NV during June. In August, the Cougars completed the capstone event of the Fleet Readiness Training Program (FRTP) cycle, Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) reaching full readiness for deployment.

In October 2017, the Cougars embarked upon Theodore Roosevelt to begin their deployment. In November the Cougars participated in Three Carrier Strike Force Exercise in the Sea of Japan with USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan followed by stability and presence operations in the South China Sea. By the end of November. the Cougars entered the Fifth Fleet Area of Operations and began flying combat sorties in support of Operations Inherent Resolve (OIR) and Freedom's Sentinel (OFS). In total for 2017, the Cougars flew 2,280.1 hours and completed 84 GWTP events earning multiple awards including the 2017 Electronic Attack Maintenance Squadron of the Year Golden Wrench Award, FRTP work-up cycle CVW-17 Golden Wrench Award, 2017 Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award, and Navy's Aviation Battle Efficiency Award (Battle "E").

In April 2019, the Cougars were awarded the Navy's Aviation Battle Efficiency Award (Battle "E") for the third consecutive year (2016, 2017, and 2018).