hey Jack, question for ya, bud

[jarhead]

hey bud,

i was reading in the latest Journel of Electronic Defense that the Navy is planning on acquiring at least 44 E/A-18G Growler's by fiscal year 04, and continue acquiring ~50 a year until '09 ... and slowly phase out the E/A-6 over the same time period, including phasing out all Marine Prowler squadrons ...... you hearing anything like that up there?

 

[Jack]

Jarhead - My biggest question in response to your question is what do they mean by "acquire"... If that means they are going to say, yes - we are giong to buy them, and appropriate the money - then maybe that article is correct. If they mean that we will start seeing EA-18 at the FRS in FY '04 - it is not correct. I recently received a brief from the Boeing R and D guys who were up here for a few weeks. I, having heard what they have to say and knowing what I do from our AOMs, do not believe we'll see an EA-18 up here until sometime around calender year '07-'08. The most frustrating part is that the aircraft is in place. Its been tested, evaluated, and tested some more. But because it is being considered a new acquisition it must fight its way throught the obligatory red tape.

The Marines are not jumping on board with the EA-18. They are going to continue flying the EA-6B Block 89A ICAP III aircraft. This will be the latest and greatest Prowler, stopping short of opening the Grumann line in BethPage Long Island and building an EA-6C. The Block 89A ICAP III will be a fairly modern cockpit with upgraded back seat secret squirrel stuff. As long as the wing spar cracking and engine refits continue to receive their due attention they ( USMC aviation ) should be ok for some time to come in the EA spectrum.