Boeing, US Navy Enhance EA-18 Targeting, Situational Awareness Capabilities

SINGAPORE, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- The US Navy and Boeing recently demonstrated new targeting technologies that greatly enhance aircrew safety and effectiveness through the rapid integration and distribution of target information across multiple aircraft. In a statement released here, Boeing said utilising an advanced targeting processor, an open architecture, high-bandwidth data link, and a Windows-based tablet integrated with the mission system, the demonstration proved that the Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft can detect targets over longer distances and share information more rapidly than ever before. US Navy F/A-18 and EA-18G programme manager Capt. David Kindley said: "This enhanced targeting capability provides our aircrews with a significant advantage, especially in an increasingly dense threat environment where longer-range targeting is critical to the fight." Naval aviation history was made during the Navy fleet experimentation campaign when data was integrated from multiple Growlers operating with an E-2 Hawkeye aircraft, utilising the new high-bandwidth data link and increasing the speed and accuracy of target locating. Use of the tablet device integrated with the aircraft mission system was another first for a Navy platform. That technology allowed aircrews to more easily access data and communicate with crews in other aircraft. Existing Growlers will be retrofitted with the upgrades, while the technology will be included as a standard offering on all new aircraft currently in production. Boeing F/A-18 and EA-18G programmes vice president, Dan Gillian said the complexity of global threat environments continued to evolve. "This long-range targeting technology is essential as we advance electronic attack capabilities for the conflicts of today and tomorrow," he added. The EA-18G Growler is derived from the combat-proven F/A-18F Super Hornet and is the United States’ newest and most advanced airborne electronic attack platform, providing electronic intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data to other aircraft. The Growler has been deployed since 2010 supporting US and allied forces. --BERNAMA