Boeing Successfully Completes Third Flight Demonstration of EA-18 Airborne Electronic Attack Variant
ST. LOUIS, April 08, 2002 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] has completed the third successful flight demonstration of its EA-18 Airborne Electronic Attack concept aircraft. The test, conducted April 5, used an F/A-18F Super Hornet to carry three ALQ-99 jamming pods and two fuel tanks while measuring noise and vibration data and assessing aircraft flying qualities. Boeing teammate, Northrop Grumman, instrumented the ALQ-99 jamming pods to gather the noise and vibration information.
The EA-18 is one of the platforms under consideration to replace the EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft. The U.S. Navy has an operational need to begin replacing the Prowler by 2008.
"We expanded the test envelope for this flight; the aircraft flew higher and faster than in the first two tests," said Paul Summers, director of F/A-18 derivative programs. "We're extremely pleased with the results we've seen so far. All of our testing verifies that the EA-18 is the right platform for the Navy's Airborne Electronic Attack requirement."
The EA-18 will perform full-spectrum electronic surveillance and electronic attack of enemy threat radars and communications nets. A derivative of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet -- a platform which is in production today -- the EA-18 leverages the U.S. Navy's investment in the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet platform and Northrop Grumman's Improved Capability III radar receiver system, which represents a significantly reduced risk approach over other unproven platforms and systems.
The EA-18 is 99 percent common with the Super Hornet and is expected to significantly reduce support and training costs for the U.S. Navy.
The combination of a validated design, proven platform and proven electronics positions the EA-18 program to begin a system development and demonstration phase as early as 2003, and have aircraft in the fleet as early as 2008.
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02-23
Contact Info:
Patricia Frost
(314) 234-6996
patricia.a.frost@boeing.com
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