Posted: March 1, 2017 4:50 PM
Navy Orders Growlers, Super Hornets from Boeing
ARLINGTON, Va. — Boeing has received an order from the U.S. Navy for seven EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft and five F/A-18E Super Hornet strike fighters.
Naval Air Systems Command awarded Boeing a $678.7 million fixed-price, incentive-firm contract for the aircraft, according to the Feb. 27 contract announcement. The funds were appropriated in fiscal 2016.
Although the Navy has completed transition of all of its EA-6B Prowler squadrons to the EA-18G, the additional aircraft will allow the service to increase the number of Growlers assigned per squadron, currently set at five, to increase the warfighting capabilities of a carrier air wing.
The Super Hornet order will help alleviate the strike fighter shortage in the Navy and Marine Corps and help to provide a bridge as the fleet introduces the F-35C Lightning II joint strike fighter.
http://seapowermagazine.org/stories/20170301-Growler.html
