laststandonzombieisland

I do love full-color livery on warbirds. Check out this bad boy coming in to refuel.

Official caption: A Royal Australian Air Force Boeing E/A-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft, #306 (Bu No. 169153) from No. 6 Squadron conducting a sortie during Exercise Talisman Sabre 23 over the Northern Territory, 26 July 2023.

Note the anti-radiation HARM missile, AN/ALQ-218 wideband receivers on the wingtips, and ALQ-99 high and low-band tactical jamming pods.

Of the 172 Growlers produced thus far, almost all are in the U.S. Navy’s 16 VAQ squadrons. The sole current overseas operator is the RAAF which took possession of a baker’s dozen of aircraft for A$125 million a pop between 2015 and 2017 and achieved IOC in 2019.

Interestingly, besides the EW/SEAD role, the Australians use the Growler as a sort of replacement for the retired F-111 bomber, equipped with an ATFLIR targeting pod and assorted LGBs as well as the option for JSOW.

No, 6 RAAF dates back to 1939 and earned an impressive record in the Pacific during WWII.