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Naval Aviation News - USA |
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Boeing
& US Navy Enhance EA-18 Targeting Situational Awareness Capabilities
With Tablet Display |
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The
U.S. 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.
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A Naval flight officer from NAVAIR’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron
Two Three (VX-23) enters information on a Windows-based tablet prior
to flight. (picture: US Navy)
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Utilizing 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 Boeing EA-18G
Growler electronic attack aircraft can detect targets over longer distances
and share information more rapidly than ever before.
“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,”
said Capt. David Kindley, U.S. Navy F/A-18 and EA-18G program manager.
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An EA-18G Growler from the "Shadowhawks" of Electronic Attack
Squadron (VAQ) 141 is stopped by an arresting gear wire after landing
aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73)
(picture: US Navy)
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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, utilizing 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.
“The complexity of global threat environments continues to evolve,”
said Dan Gillian, Boeing F/A-18 and EA-18G programs vice president.
“This long-range targeting technology is essential as we advance
electronic attack capabilities for the conflicts of today and tomorrow.”
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 U.S. and allied forces.
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