EA-18G Growler - Is It Retiring? Will The Air Force Fly It?

EA-18G Growler retirement? In a move that surprised many, the Navy has proposed shutting down all five non carrier based expeditionary electronic attack squadrons as part of its fy2023 budget request. If enacted, the 25 EA18 Growlers assigned to those units would be sent to the boneyard in Tucson Arizona and put in long term storage. Additionally the proposal would see just over one thousand officers and enlisted personnel from the five squadrons cut or transferred as a result of inactivating the Growlers. Today we will take a look at why this is a bad idea, how the Air Force and Navy Reserve could keep the Growler flying, what future replacements there may be for the Growler, and how the EA-18G could have been used in a summer blockbuster movie you may have seen.

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[stuartshallproductions]

The Navy knows how vital of an asset the Growler is. They are just angling to get more funds and know the outcry from Congress and the Air Force will result in more funding. Well played Navy!

[Blinkybills]

Very Interesting. Thanks for Sharing. As a Pacific partner to the US Navy, The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) operates a small force of E/A 18G Growlers as well. And we definitely aren't retiring them anytime soon. In fact the RAAF recently purchased a brand new one to replace one lost in a fire in the US. We also have prewired 12 of our F/A 18F fleet for possible future conversion to the E/A 18G standard if need be. They are a very good capability.

[amahana]

Let me save everyone 12 minutes of their day; no the Navy isn’t retiring the Growler, and no the USAF isn’t going to fly it.

[KapiteinKrentebol]

I'm asuming admiral Cain needs more budget for his droneprogram.

[MrSinlock]

The video is so puzzling. During the entire production that clearly took many hours to produce, it is never mentioned that the proposal is to remove only 25 airframes of a Total of 172. Video repeatedly infers that the Growler platform as a whole is possibly on the chopping block. On a side note, The USAF should have to carry some of the load for tactical jamming.

[cotabom]

I honestly dont think the navy would replace the Growler without a replacement unless they are really just that incompetent.. As I stated in a previous video, the Growler's should be upgraded to the Super Hornet's Block III variant. Making a so called Growler II. I feel like it would not only help with costs, but also its strike/support capability.

[TheRenegadeAVR]

I'm in agreement with ben welch, it's politics, notice that it's just the expeditionary units being decommissioned, not the fleet squadrons. The Navy has to make budget cuts to meet the 2023 budget plan, so they put an asset on the block that is high value and fills a defense requirement. Congress (and others) don't like the idea and make a move to block the deactivation of the Growler, now Congress is on the hook for the funding. Great Video!!!

[JeffNeelzebub]

If they are planning to retire it, that would be…awkward, given that there are several “next gen jammer” programs in development, and the mid-band is still in flight testing and the low band is still in early development.

[briantaylor]

That job takes people with a special mindset, it is an art. After being in the military, it's amazing what a branch of the military, all the way down to the smallest unit size, will do to extend and raise budget money. Most waste what they have, and many can't get what they need to do the designated job.

[ghostriderjinetedelfanta]

Unless the Growlers are transferred to the USAF, or Reserves, I say, keep them flying! At least until they have an equivalent replacement. I'm OK with them being transferred to the Air Force, or Air National Guard. They make perfect tactical sense, whether they accompany Naval aviation or Air Forces!

[bryanrussell]

Eventually they should build an EA-35 Growler, or some variation where the growler capabilities are in a stealth air frame.

[graystoke]

As with other commenters, decommissioning shore-based Growler squadrons is a political and budget play by the Navy.

1. The Navy is telling the Air Force indirectly to stand-up their own tactical airborne electronic attack capability. The Navy wants to focus more on the maritime environment, which is their primary mission. More at fault is the Air Force for not maintaining airborne electronic attack aircraft and dumping the mission to the Navy. It doesn't make sense for the Navy to do electronic attack missions deep inland in the European theater, which is primarily for the Army and the Air Force.

2. The budget allocation is killing the Navy. It needs to pay for the replacement of the Ohio-class (SSBN) ballistic submarines, get new frigates (Constellation class) to the water, F/A-XX, and more. Sure, Navy acquisition was not great this past decade (i.e., LCS, Zumwalt) but there are lot of things in the inventory that needs to be replaced.

3. This video at certain parts implies the Navy is getting rid of Growlers as if there are significant issues with the plane or as if the Navy didn't understand the value. The issue is not the plane itself, but the allocation of forces and missions assigned between the Navy and Air Force. Typical clickbait.

[ZombieEater]

After you cover the EA-6 and wrap up the Prowler-Growler family, you should cover the Wild Weasels (F-105 F, F-4 G, F-16 CJ/DJ)

[lancescott]

The Growler already is in airfoce colours, , RAAF colours 😍

[scottnj]

A salient, balanced presentation. The writing very up to date, animation succinct, superb and effective. SUPER JOB! Thanks Juan.🤓👍

p.s. to the point of the post... opinion....Growler, Prowler, Aardvark. Until such time as the "connected battlefield" is realized at line combat aircraft, F-35, F-15EX, Super Hornet, F-16 and F-16CJ. Independent EW players are battlefield essentials. All else is not presently an option.

[Rob_FF]

The Growler was introduced into service in 2009. A 13 year old type is young.

The sainted F-14 (BBIN) was prematurely retired after only 32 years in service.

It's a move from the Navy to either get more money, get out of supporting the AF, or a little of both.

[tim]

"Pail" - we need your awesome videos, like PBS needed Bob Ross !!!
Vote NO for Growler retirement and yes for the "signature move". 😊

[davidsherman]

When it took the "higher-ups" at the Pentagon, way too long to retire the EA-6B PROWLER, and, way too long to implement the EA-18G GROWLER in its(prowler) place, to retire the GROWLER so soon, after it has started proving how well it(growler) can perform, seems utterly ridiculous, to me. The GROWLER may be relatively new to this particular role, it is a battle tested, battle proverbial platform.

[danielbarnes]

For good examples of how the growlers work you can read Barrett Tillman's book the 6th battle, featuring the growlers predecessor the old a-6 prowlers, an excellent read as well if you like military fiction

[benwelch]

It has to be a play for more funding. The capabilities of the aircraft are too great to let it go by the way side. Cheers.