Australia to spend $2bn upgrading Growlers

It will form part of a larger $2 billion program that will also see the aircraft itself upgraded with sensor and jammer upgrades and new longer-range missiles.

The EA-18G Growler is an electronic attack aircraft, designed to jam or destroy military electronic systems — including radars and communications — to curtail enemy operations.

Australia has a fleet of 11 and is the only country outside the US to operate the aircraft, which is effectively a variant of the Super Hornet.

“I’m proud that this project will continue to develop Aus­tralia’s own CEA Technologies, a world-leading radar technology company,” Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy told The Australian.

“We are delivering leading-edge technology that the RAAF needs to face an increasingly ­complex and uncertain strategic environment.”

Defence Minister Richard Marles said, “Defence continues to invest in this key electronic attack platform, which will ensure the EA-18G Growler remains capable of delivering lethal and potent ­effects for Australia.”

It follows Raytheon last year agreeing to a new five-year, $110 million deal to deliver training support services for the RAAF’s Super Hornets and Growlers.

The contract involves upgrading and extending air combat training support at Base Amberley in Queensland through the provision of ground simulator training support.

This is expected to include maintenance and engineering services, as well as aircrew training such as instruction courseware development and force generation tasks.

The work is tipped to employ approximately 49 personnel from Raytheon Australia and local pilot training provider Milskil.