EA-18G Electronic Attack Aircraft Completes Evaluation Flights

By Richard R. Burgess, Managing Editor

The Navy's new carrier-based electronic attack aircraft completed the test flights for its operational test and evaluation on May 5, said Capt. Mark Darrah, the Navy's program manager for the EA-18G Growler.

The report on the evaluation -- which began in October and involved more than 400 flight hours -- will be issued this summer and likely will clear the way for full-rate production in August.

Eleven EA-18Gs had been delivered from low-rate initial production as of May 4 out of 88 aircraft in the program of record.

The Navy's first operational EA-18G squadron, Electronic Attack Squadron 132 (VAQ-132), began training in February. The squadron is scheduled to bring the Growler to its initial operating capability in September and take the aircraft on its first carrier deployment in mid-2010. The second operational squadron, VAQ-141, will complete transition from the EA-6B Prowler in December.