Approval for full-rate production was expected in the third quarter of 2009, and was given on 23 November 2009. The Navy planned to buy approximately 85 aircraft in 2008. The EA-18G was scheduled to finish flight testing in 2008. The US DoD gave approval for the EA-18G program to begin low-rate initial production in 2007. Navy has ordered a total of 57 aircraft to replace its in-service EA-6B Prowlers, most of which are based at NAS Whidbey Island. Īn EA-18G Growler alongside an EA-6B Prowler shortly after arriving at NAS Whidbey Island, 2007. In a 2008 GAO report, the director of the DoD's Operational Test and Evaluation department questioned the workload on the two-person Growler crew to replace the Prowler's crew of four.
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The report recommended that the DoD consider purchasing additional ICAP III upgrades for EA-6Bs to fill any current and near-term capability gaps and restructure the initial EA-18G production plans so that procurement takes place after the aircraft has "demonstrated full functionality".
The GAO felt the electronic warfare systems on the EA-18G were not fully mature so there is a risk of "future cost growth and schedule delays". Government Accountability Office expressed concerns. There were five Growlers flying in the flight test program as of June 2008. However, since they were not built initially as Growlers, the Navy has designated these two test aircraft as NEA-18Gs. Louis production line and modified by Boeing to the EA-18G configuration. EA-1 and EA-2 are F/A-18Fs F-134 and F-135, pulled from the St. Both aircraft are assigned to VX-23 "Salty Dogs". 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. The second aircraft (EA-2) first flew on 10 November 2006, and was delivered to NAS Patuxent River on 29 November 2006. EA-1 primarily supports ground testing in the Air Combat Environment Test and Evaluation Facility (ACETEF) anechoic chamber. Louis on 15 August 2006 it was later ferried to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland on 22 September 2006. The first test aircraft, known as EA-1, was rolled out on 3 August 2006, before making its maiden flight at St. The first EA-18G test aircraft entered production on 22 October 2004. In 2003, the Navy expected to receive 90 EA-18Gs. Northrop Grumman was the principal airframe subcontractor and they would supply the center and aft fuselage as well as the principal electronic combat system. As primary contractor, Boeing was to construct the forward fuselage and wings, and perform the final assembly. In December 2003, the US Navy awarded a development contract for the EA-18G to Boeing. On 15 November 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. The first EA-18G at the roll-out ceremony on 3 August 2006
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