Jump to content
Sign in to follow this  
Jimbib

Boeing delivers first EA-18G to the USN...

Recommended Posts


Is this plane supposed to replace the EA-6B Prowler? :blink:

 

It only has a crew of 2... and IMHO, for electronic missions, 4 heads thinking and acting is better than just 2 (or 3 vs 1 in this case of electronic officers)... Once again cutbacks, cutbacks, cutbacks...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Is this plane supposed to replace the EA-6B Prowler? :blink:

 

It only has a crew of 2... and IMHO, for electronic missions, 4 heads thinking and acting is better than just 2 (or 3 vs 1 in this case of electronic officers)... Once again cutbacks, cutbacks, cutbacks...

 

I wouldn't be too surprised if US Navy makes an replacement for E-2 Hawkeye based on superbug. :biggrin:

Edited by Mladuna

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes, but the EA-18 will be able to keep up with the other Hornets during missions, as opposed to the EA-6 which is incapable of those speeds.

The other thing is modern computers should allow 2 to do the job of 3 (as in the EA-6 I don't think the pilot did any EW work himself, just flew).

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The EF-111 was only a 2 seater too. Did that have any workload problems for the crew?

 

What's the plan for the Growler? 4 aircraft squadrons per carrier like the Prowler?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Jedi and allenjb42 are both correct.

 

I scammed a ride with some Prowler guys 10 years ago during a Flag exercise so I got to see them doing the job firsthand. Most of their work was just trying to fuse the myriad sensor inputs of the decidedly old avionics. Definitely stuff that's improved in modern avionics. And yep, the pilot does not do any of the EWO work in the Prowler. The 4 person argument is not a valid one in this case.

 

FastCargo

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I wouldn't be too surprised if US Navy makes an replacement for E-2 Hawkeye based on superbug. :biggrin:

 

 

in development........

 

:rofl:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

What about the C-2 Greyhound?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Yes, but the EA-18 will be able to keep up with the other Hornets during missions, as opposed to the EA-6 which is incapable of those speeds. The other thing is modern computers should allow 2 to do the job of 3 (as in the EA-6 I don't think the pilot did any EW work himself, just flew).
In a debrief of Desert Storm, it was said that the USAF EF-111 Raven (which had lower power jammers) was more effective over the Prowler (which had higher power jammers) due to it's ability to easily keep up with the strike packages.Also, the pilots just fly, and occasionally pickle off a HARM, just to back you up.
in development........ :rofl:
I've been looking for that!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
In a debrief of Desert Storm, it was said that the USAF EF-111 Raven (which had lower power jammers) was more effective over the Prowler (which had higher power jammers) due to it's ability to easily keep up with the strike packages.Also, the pilots just fly, and occasionally pickle off a HARM, just to back you up.I've been looking for that!

 

 

I though that Ravens were unarmed save the possibility for AIM-9s.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I thought they carried HARM's, but I cannot find anything to confirm this ::unsure::

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think ravens were F-111s stripped to the bare bones of everything. The purpose was to have all equipment carried internally so drag was reduced, maybe they could carry aim-9s, but I don't even think F-111s carried HARMS operationally.

Edited by ironroad

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

And most of the guys I know that flew Ravens have all retired so finding someone to ask has become problematic...

 

FastCargo

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Jedi and allenjb42 are both correct.

 

I scammed a ride with some Prowler guys 10 years ago during a Flag exercise so I got to see them doing the job firsthand. Most of their work was just trying to fuse the myriad sensor inputs of the decidedly old avionics. Definitely stuff that's improved in modern avionics. And yep, the pilot does not do any of the EWO work in the Prowler. The 4 person argument is not a valid one in this case.

 

FastCargo

 

I beg to differ. Imagine a Prowler with modern electronics... 4 persons with the new computers and completely overhauled new electronics/radar/sensor suite... would out-do the Growler's 2-crewed performance. But Prowler in that case would be relegated to Electronic Warfare only, since SEAD is also normally left to Wild Weasel type aircraft...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The EA-6B has enough pylons to carry HARMs plus the ALQ pods. The EF-111 had only two pylons under the glove and both carried ALQs. It had no pylons for ordnance. The EA-18 has pylons like the EA-6 and will be a hunter too.

 

While a 4 person crew with the EA-18's suite could certainly out do a 2 man one, any plane capable of carrying 4 people would be slower and more vulnerable. Let's face it, neither AAA nor IR SAMs care about those jammers. You can't jam the MkI eyeball! It's better to have 2 EA-18s instead. :wink:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
The EA-6B has enough pylons to carry HARMs plus the ALQ pods. The EF-111 had only two pylons under the glove and both carried ALQs. It had no pylons for ordnance. The EA-18 has pylons like the EA-6 and will be a hunter too.

 

While a 4 person crew with the EA-18's suite could certainly out do a 2 man one, any plane capable of carrying 4 people would be slower and more vulnerable. Let's face it, neither AAA nor IR SAMs care about those jammers. You can't jam the MkI eyeball! It's better to have 2 EA-18s instead. :wink:

 

I think the operational concept is to do just that, send in one with the strike package and another as a stand-off.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I hope you don't mind the question, but what do the prowlers and growlers do anyway?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My impression was that the ALQ-99E that was carried by the EF-111 Ravens was more automated than that on the Prowlers, and the Raven was mostly flying in a clean configuration for its missions. Confirm, anyone?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
The EA-6B has enough pylons to carry HARMs plus the ALQ pods. The EF-111 had only two pylons under the glove and both carried ALQs. It had no pylons for ordnance. The EA-18 has pylons like the EA-6 and will be a hunter too.

 

While a 4 person crew with the EA-18's suite could certainly out do a 2 man one, any plane capable of carrying 4 people would be slower and more vulnerable. Let's face it, neither AAA nor IR SAMs care about those jammers. You can't jam the MkI eyeball! It's better to have 2 EA-18s instead. :wink:

 

Well, still for the role of standoff electronic warfare platform I think the Prowler would outperform the Growler, since AFAIK the USN doesn't have any other dedicated ELINT/EW platform, though I don't mind the Growler being dedicated USN Wild Weasels... oh well... Maybe someone will think of converting some Greyhounds to a dedicated Electronic Warfare/ELINT platform... Because electronic warfare isn't limited to SEAD but there are other electronics that can be jammed electronically...

Edited by TX3RN0BILL

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

From what I understand all the equipment for the Raven was packed in the 111's bomb bay, on the tail, inside the wing roots, and in the nose. The Grumman and the USAF wanted a clean airframe with as little drag as possible. The only thing I have seen loaded on the Raven's wing pylons were travel pods.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Well, still for the role of standoff electronic warfare platform I think the Prowler would outperform the Growler, since AFAIK the USN doesn't have any other dedicated ELINT/EW platform, though I don't mind the Growler being dedicated USN Wild Weasels... oh well... Maybe someone will think of converting some Greyhounds to a dedicated Electronic Warfare/ELINT platform... Because electronic warfare isn't limited to SEAD but there are other electronics that can be jammed electronically...

 

I dunno from the looks of it, it seems the EA-18 will only have harms and or a/a missiles for last ditch self-defense. Looks like most the of the pylons are jammed up with pods. I do not think the Marines will be getting rid of their Prowlers anytime soon, hopefully they will get the airframes and parts passed on to them.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
From what I understand all the equipment for the Raven was packed in the 111's bomb bay, on the tail, inside the wing roots, and in the nose. The Grumman and the USAF wanted a clean airframe with as little drag as possible. The only thing I have seen loaded on the Raven's wing pylons were travel pods.

 

That's what I thought too. I used to have the USAFE Yearbook 1988 which explained all this. I try to dig it up...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

- Boeing is one of the most corrupt companies in the world...I am very confident that if the game "Half-life" were true, then Boeing was running Black Mesa

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  

×

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue..