The EA-18G Growler’s History and Future The EA-18G Growler is an American carrier based electronic warfare aircraft that is designed and manufactured by Boeing. It is a modified version of the F/A-18F Super Hornet two seat aircraft that is currently utilized by the U.S. Navy. The plan for this aircraft is to replace the Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowlers that are currently in service for the Navy. The Growlers electronic warfare capability components are provided almost exclusively by Northrop Grumman. The EA-18G began production in 2007 and entered into military service in late 2009. In November of 2001, Boeing successfully completed an initial flight demonstration of an F/A-18F that was fitted with the ALQ-99 electronic-warfare system to serve as the EA-18 Airborne Electronic Attack concept aircraft. In December of 2003, the Navy solidified the contract with Boeing for 90 Growlers. The first Growler entered production in October 2004 and took its first flight in August 2006. The second Growler took its first flight in November 2006 and was delivered to NAS Patuxent River in the same month. At Patuxent River, the Growler underwent testing for basic Airborne Electronic Attack before it was sent to the Naval Air Weapons Station in China Lake, California for the Electronic Combat Range. Both of the first Growlers were assigned to VX-23, the “Salty Dogs.” As of June 2008, the first two Growlers were designated as NEA-18G’s because they were actually pulled from the F/A-19F production line and only had modifications made to make them similar to the future Growlers. After the initial testing of the electronic capabilities, the first five Growlers were flying in the flight test program. The design and performance of th... ... middle of paper ... ...ferent aircraft in teams. Together, it is very hard to detect, deny, and destroy these fighters. Maybe there should be an equal investment across multiple platforms so that the threat the U.S. possess is less likely to be contested when conducting operations. Bibliography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_EA-18G_Growler http://www.boeing.com/boeing/defense-space/military/ea18g/index.page http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-navy-to-request-additional-boeing-ea-18g-growlers-397099/ http://www.dailybreeze.com/business/20140321/how-boeing-is-trying-to-save-production-of-the-ea-18g-growler http://breakingdefense.com/2014/03/why-the-navy-really-wants-22-more-fa-18gs/ http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/ea-18g-growler/ http://breakingdefense.com/2014/04/f-35s-stealth-ew-not-enough-so-jsf-and-navy-need-growlers-boeing-says-50-100-more/
By the end of World War I the world was beginning to realize the ability air combat presented. When World War II started planes became much more effective. Though still fabric covered, the aircraft were faster and more agile than the variants used in the Great War. In 1938, the first year of the Second World War, Curtiss unveiled their P-40 Warhawk. This aircraft was one of the best of its time and laid the foundation for modern aircraft engineering. But by 1940 the German Luftwaffe had begun to develop faster, long-ranged fighter-bombers. All current Allied aircraft could not keep up with the long range of the B-17 bombers who needed escort. In 1940, North American Aviation received an order from Britain requesting another shipment of
In today’s world, the use of airplanes in wars or in everyday life has become a part of how we live as human beings. Removing the air forces of the world is like taking a step back in time when wars were only fought on land or sea. WWI began only eleven short years after the Wright brothers achieved powered flight in 19031 and yet aircrafts were being used for surveillance and eventually combat purposes. It is understood that these aircrafts were primitive, but they laid down the foundation for what we know today as fighter jets. The Fokker Eindecker “revolutionized air combat by successfully employing a synchronized forward -firing machine gun mounted on the engine cowling”2. Because this airplane became the first to successfully use a synchronized machine gun, it allowed its pilots to become the first aerial combat tactitions3.
...in technology and tactics have made Special Forces units more reliable. For example, the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan and the incident with the Somali pirates of the coast of Somalia show the capabilities of today’s Special Forces. The author asserts that, in the future the United States will shift away from major combat operations. These large engagements have proven to be costly in lives and treasure. For that reason, she infers that the US Military will choose the “go small, go long” model for future engagements in the Middle East. Special operation forces are uniquely suited for this model. Their conspicuous nature and low cost make them politically and strategically ideal. The author also suggests that future large scale operations may look like the conflicts in Libya and Somalia rather than the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In addition, Byman argues that “drones have devastated al Qaeda and associated anti-American militant groups... and they have done so at little financial cost” (Byman 1). In the article, Byman compares the financia...
Although many people could say that it would just be a waste of time because of the other military development failures, the national budget is shrinking. In the late 1990s, the U.S. government started work on a new type of spy satellite. The project cost U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars, but none of the satellites were built. The reason for t...
...ilities of the tanks being penetrated were slim. Also there was an addition of an anti-craft gun which made it even more powerful and unstoppable (Slayton 103).
The post 9/11 era in The United States defense policies have been one of proactive as compared to reactive. The United States has been looking at methods to gather intelligence on our enemy while ensuring the safety of our troops. The drone has been the answer to the search because the drone is capable of ensuring the U.S. life, forced projection of power over our enemies, and Strategic stealth tactical striking.
...It was inspected at the Roswell Army Air Field and subsequently loaned by Major Marcel to higher headquarters. (qtd. in Berlitz 24)
The ability to disable an enemy force without ever having to fire a single shot – that is the new direction of warfare. Bruce Berkowitz’s The New Face of War: How War Will Be Fought in the 21st Century is yet another book that examines future warfare, not what causes countries will be fighting over or even who will be fighting, but the form of the conflict. Reading his work cover to cover, the message is clear: “To win wars today, you must first win the information war. ” This book is a must-read for anyone working in intelligence or in a position of power that influences our government spending on national security or military operations, because it articulates the importance of information technology on warfare, presents examples of how information has shaped conflicts throughout history, and provides invaluable lessons to leaders at all levels.
The United States beer industry represents 233 million hectoliters of the world’s 1,501 million hectoliters and is a dynamic part of the United States national economy, contributing billions of dollars in wages and taxes. Within the U.S., the beer market accounts for nearly 50% of total volume of alcohol, with the import specialty and light beer segments driving growth.
Of this total, around $500 billion comprises the base budget which “includes funding for the procurement of military equipment and the daily operations costs of U.S. bases” (Gould & Bender, 2015). Basically, home defense measures amount to over eighty-percent of the nation’s defense budget. With these astronomical figures, one may question whether or not these types of expenditures are excessive when considering the infrequency of attacks on U.S. soil. To further break down this nearly $500 billion base budget, roughly $200 billion is allotted for operations/maintenance, $135 billion for military personnel, $90 billion for procurement, and $65 billion for research/development (Gould & Bender, 2015). In a world where people rush to purchase lottery tickets at the hopes of hitting a jackpot worth a few million, these expenditures are incomprehensible and may seem excessive; however, not everyone feels this way. In an article found on the U.S. Department of Defense’s website, the “DoD has done its best to manage through this prolonged period of budget uncertainty, the secretary said, making painful choices and tradeoffs” and that in “today’s security environment we need to be dynamic and we need to be responsive. What we have now is a straitjacket” (Pellerin, 2015). At the end of the day, it is all about who is being asked whether the defense
However, it is evident that the implementation of these specialized aviation units has enabled Delta Force to execute its missions with much more accuracy. America’s ability to reach out and touch someone has come a long way since the failed mission of Operation Eagle Claw. Ignoring the political side of things, it is very comforting to know that such a precision instrument exists. “You guys are the meanest and ugliest fuckers I’ve met in my life. But I love you. You guys saved my life and I’m eternally, eternally grateful…So long, guys.” (Kurt Muse)
The US military can be successful in future wars if it focuses on, trains to, and adapts its force structure to prepare for full spectrum operations. The most likely challenges to US national security interests include international terrorist organizations, transnational criminal organizations, insurgent rebellions and small wars. The most dangerous challenges to US national security interests come from major conventional threats like Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China. To overcome these most likely and most dangerous challenges, the US needs to focus its strategic guidance on full spectrum operations, increase training in conventional operations while maintaining current training in irregular operations, and improve the force structure with irregular operation enablers while maintaining its conventional power capabilities.
The military budget of the US, approximately $700 billion, is roughly the same as the military budgets from every country in the world. If the US military budget were to be cut in half, it would still be the largest budget in the world, if it were cut in half again, ...
Insinna, Valerie. "National Defense Industrial Association." (18 April 2013). National Defense. Article. 10 December 2013. http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/blog/lists/posts/post.aspx?ID=1117