The Navy's nastiest fighter nobody ever talks about

Boeing's EA-18G Growler is a specialized, carrier-capable electronic warfare aircraft based on the F/A-18 Super Hornet - and when it comes to wreaking havoc on enemy electronics, it has few peers on the world's stage.
And now, with its new Next Generation Jammer pods coming online, it's getting even better.
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[@dreadus8125]

Basically rick rolling enemy radar systems, I'm here for it.

[@Simmer4Decades]

I have always found the EF-111 and EA-6B fascinating. It’s such a cerebral fight and the brain of the EWO is the primary weapon. Brings “brains over braun” into the spotlight really well.

[@chuck.reichert83]

Wouldn't it be great if they actually Rick Rolled the radar operators.

[@Nathan-vt1jz]

@@chuck.reichert83 Possibly the greatest electronic warfare flex. 😂

[@DUKE_of_RAMBLE]

​@@chuck.reichert83 It's a shame the enemy hardware isn't analog anymore, using oscilloscope screens for readouts, as then it's possible they actually could _actually_ Rick Roll them... Just look up "Oscilloscope Music" lol

[@spaceburger80]

Never gonna give you up…

[@julioguardado]

The amount of signal processing those growlers are doing is beyond amazing.

[@martywalters4804]

DSPs going hard

[@thomasvelazquez9789]

Yes, Ivan won't like that!

[@memeityy]

​@@martywalters4804DarkSydePhil

[@ryszardfalkowski7917]

​@thomasvelazquez9789 Unfortunately China used AI to counter a Growler in December 2023 and after hours of stalemate US disengaged. And sadly the EW Squadron commander was relieved of his duties. FYI: it wasn't his fault but the platforms and China's successful engagement with the Growler. The Navy better have something a lot better up its billion dollar sleeves if they plan on winning EW fights.

[@thomasvelazquez9789]

@@ryszardfalkowski7917 nice try

[@swiftycortex]

Seeing a drop from Sandbox makes me happier than a drop from any of my other most favorite channels! Thank you Alex

[@ddegn]

A drop from Sandboxx makes me happier than a drop of LSD. OK, it's dumb but I spelt Sandboxx right. 😉 (No offense intended. I'm just being goofy. Cheers.)

[@adamwest1138]

And us Aussies are rocking em too

[@FishandHunt]

🇦🇺🤝🏻🇺🇸

[@mjk9388]

US 💌 AU

[@nathanabsolom2199]

we have 12 of them

[@AndrewinAus]

@@nathanabsolom2199 Finally again, after we got a replacement one to make up for the one we lost in the US to an engine compressor disc failure in 2018.

[@communistgreyman2078]

I want one, just for shits and giggles.

[@Echowhiskeyone]

The Prowler was my favorite aircraft for many years, I was sorry to see it go. Now we have the Growler. I was skeptical at first, but this bird is fricking awesome. My new favorite aircraft. When I was in, I did Electronic Warfare and had time working with Prowlers. If the Growler is better than the Prowler, the enemy will not know what hit them.

[@ryankc3631]

I agree, the Prowlers were fun. E-2C's and S-3B's had pretty good ESM too and were happy to throw us out a line of bearing. A carrier was the place to be for an EW.

[@ryszardfalkowski7917]

Did you read what happened last December 2023 with a Growler and PLAN warship?

[@chadpersing5596]

​@@ryszardfalkowski7917 I'm curious what more has been said..I don't remember Alex covering this..

[@Kriss_L]

Echowhiskeyone, were you in for the CTT merger? And have you seen the new active version of the SLQ-32 for the DDGs?

[@dannileigh6426]

Growler even got an a2a kill I think. Hornet has always been my fav and I love the growler. (tho F-8 and Intruder/Prowler fav vietnam era) Next would be Rafale, and it also seems to have very impressive EW with both passive and active capabilities. I wish I could know more and the defensive aids, ecm, and ew in the Israeli F-16i Sufa.

[@WWeronko]

The Air Force had its own jammer, the EF-111A Raven or as it was often called, the "Spark-Vark" . The EF-111 entered service in 1983 and served until its retirement in 1998. After the EF-111A was retired in 1998, the U.S. Air Force began relying on the Navy’s EA-6B Prowler and later the EA-18G Growler for electronic attack missions. I guess joint operations is alive and well.

[@ChuckThree]

Begrudgingly

[@LyonPercival]

USAF just received their first EA 37 B ;)

[@ParZIVal19D]

Damn. Growler growing up big time. Love it!

[@kavemanthewoodbutcher]

Growler= Radar Troll. Enemy Radar: exists Growler: Sorry bout your damn luck.

[@TheNewLife4ever]

“Digital Apocalypse”!! Love it!! 🇺🇸

[@chriscasey7113]

This channel is so under appreciated. Fantastic work as always.

[@BrianAiello]

I had the honor, privilege and good fortune to be involved in building all the EF-111A airplanes while working at Grumman out on Long Island. Moving between Station 3 and First Flight, it was a genuine thrill. And when it ended up saving untold lives and casualties in our armed forces' first strike sortees, and subsequent engagements, I could not have been more proud. I pleases me to no end to see that electronic warfare aircraft remain as a most important, and often unsung hero of our military's dominant place in global security. Based on your reporting, I'd say considerably improvements have been ongoing since my days of building awesome machines!

[@rich24h]

Brings back memories from my time in the Navy as an E4 AD

[@DanDan_and_the_boys]

What’s so crazy about all of this is that this is what they tell everybody publicly. Can you really imagine what’s still being tested and is secretly classified and being developed through darpa. I’m not saying no one else has technology like this but really I’m sure it’s quite limited if so but what we have in the shadows is nuts.

[@thomasvelazquez9789]

Yes and it sounds like the Champ missile tech has been incorporated into this platform

[@FacitOmniaVoluntas.]

I can confidently say that no one else has technology like this. Sure China has really upped its defense budget, but they’ve only done so relatively recently. The US has decades of experience and a massive head start in the R&D sector of the MIC. China is still pretty much reduced to trying to catch up to American technological supremacy. Russia is not even worth mentioning, they’re a third rate outdated military force. NATO allies such as GB, Germany or France could theoretically have such systems, but they don’t seem to bother to invest enough money into their military to make such developments happen.

[@DanDan_and_the_boys]

@@FacitOmniaVoluntas. I agree , china has the funds but they don’t posses the knowledge on how and what things look like it combat . The president dude is surrounded by yes men so to accurately understand and make things truly do what they need or want it to do is impossible . Like you was talking about the other nato countries, I’m sure they could swing it but most of the time but I understand not all they get the technology from the USA . They do create some awesome tools for the job but budget that the US military/government has is just astronomical compared.

[@everettputerbaugh3996]

@@FacitOmniaVoluntas. It seems the only thing China is really good at is stealing other people's R&D results.

[@thorb5191]

Ask Hibitual Line Crosser about a Growler. His statements should tell you enough that the enemy should be afraid of the growler

[@caelumvaldovinos5318]

EA-18: for when you want to give radars down syndrome

[@ryszardfalkowski7917]

Only if that were the truth. In fact China successfully equalized the Growler in December 2023. Go read about it. The USNavys EW squadron commander lost his job because someone had to be blamed. Of course he wasn't to blame, China simply used Ai to neutralize the Growler at its own game.

[@winelive5500]

@@ryszardfalkowski7917thanks. The Nanchang did seem to defeat the Growler, the pods talked about here may help regain some advantage though the use of AI to deconflict the jamming is worrisome. I would imagine that the processing power and range of sensors required may limit this to naval air warfare systems aboard large ships, here’s hoping that the SAMs still don’t have the tech

[@cubed0724]

First off, there is no official reason given for the dismissal. You are purely speculating. Second of all, China simply claims to have "locked on" to a growler and being able to send an aircraft to intercept it. Rather than seriously attempting to actively enage the Chinese destroyer and foolishly handing the Chinese intelligence on US capabilities, the growler was most likely there passively collecting intelligence of its own. So the Chinese are basically bragging about intercepting a non stealthy tactical aircraft within close proximity of one of its most advanced destroyers. Even if it actually happened, it's not the least bit impressive or concerning.

[@eugenenunn4900]

​@@cubed0724 you're making sense. Sounds more like a media stunt than anything significant

[@willswenson3169]

3:25 Alex out here theorizing that the Growler has an energy weapon, and I'm here for it.

[@power21100]

Correction *Is an energy weapon

[@Bardghost_Isu]

TBH it's not really even a theory, from some public comments the F-35s radar is capable of literally burning out the radars of hostile jets by overloading them, as these pods are based upon the F-35s systems it only makes sense that it can do the same, if not better.

[@matdan2]

“and I’m here for it” is such a lame Reddit/Twitter trend

[@chadpersing5596]

@@matdan2 lame as it might be..I'm here for it too! 😂

[@georgeau2523]

Is this theoretically possible? with the amount of power available on an aircraft?

[@joevaccaro6655]

Thanks for covering the Ea18G. It’s fascinating, especially since it’s an improvement of the jet it replaced, the ea 6b prowler, which excelled at electronic counter measures.

[@randlecarr3257]

Living on Whidbey Island for several years, I love the Growler! Despite the occasional lack of cell service

[@OregonGreene]

Great description! 2 growlers just put on a great show at the Oregon intl airshow this past weekend. Great show.

[@NothingIsKnown00]

Enemy: “We’re operating under ground based support umbrella.” Growler: “Does that make you feel safe?”

[@rwschumm]

Thanks for covering these Growlers. I was not aware of some of the info provided!

[@salvatorequattrocchi2582]

Excellent technical analysis!! Thank you!

[@Scottagram]

Brisbane loves our Growlers. Their low fly-bys during festivals are always great.

[@abeldyer8316]

Thanks Alex for this wonderful video on one of my favorite aircraft out there. 👍👍👍

[@AldrichChristian-e7c]

The dream was always running ahead of me. To catch up, to live for a moment in unison with it, that was the miracle.

[@swynty777]

One of my fav jets of all time

[@luisromero6891]

Alex “let’s talk about an aircraft NOBODY ever talks about” - proceeds to mention it at every possible opportunity in half his videos

[@markjmaxwell9819]

Glad we have the Growler version of the Super Hornet in the Australian inventory with the capability it brings definitely worth having. We are eagerly awaiting the block III upgrades for both versions of the Super Hornet. 😎🇦🇺👍

[@winelive5500]

Wonder if our Aussie Growlers are getting the pods too… better do as we both have the same opponent in mind for their use

[@AndrewinAus]

Yes, the pod mentioned in the video was developed collaboratively between the USN and RAAF. Project AIR 5349 Phase 6 is the program for the upgrade.

[@persistentwind]

​@AndrewinAus oddly specific.

[@AndrewinAus]

@@persistentwind Not really just accurate

[@ThePrybra07]

Just saw their demo at an airshow and it's pretty epic. Obviously they can't show anything about the electronic attack during an airshow but it's still awesome

[@LyndonBessie]

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.

[@ScottySundown]

Notice the graphic at 3:58……The Big Herc is up there doing work in its own EW role. Man I love that bird!!!

[@allansmith9004]

I can tell you personally what DARPA can do to a person, when a big wig there looks up with your wife. They have some REALLY CRAZY stuff that will Ruin your life. I can also tell you we have something with jet engines, that can hover, move side to side, and can even go backwards. Only flies at night in good old Norf.

[@Hikaru109Ichijyo]

Man the EW Herc can carry alot of jams equip inside and wing mounted, also the AF also has a gulfstream doing EW too

[@jeremy7383]

Just wanted to say thank you for not making a 3 minute ad in a 5 minute video. I am glad you took the feedback!

[@YorkRoger]

The day always looks brighter from behind a smile.

[@texasranger24]

A video about the X65 and active flow control would be cool.

[@VickyMcCarthy-i3c]

Nothing is so strong as gentleness. Nothing is so gentle as real strength.

[@egmccann]

And the Growler's been putting on a good show at Oshkosh for a few years. Can't show off the electronics, obviously, but always a treat to watch fly.

[@matthewsuffolk7687]

When done right, no one knows you did anything at all. The Growler is serious kit.

[@adventuretarian8191]

Keep on kicking ass, Alex!

[@majboomer1285]

Thanks for giving Electronic Warfare some love. A great follow up story would be on the EA-37B, the new Compass Call platform. Someone will soon need to change that EC-130H graphic that was shown. The first one was just delivered.

[@persistentwind]

Think it's now been redesigned the EA-37b

[@majboomer1285]

@@persistentwind LoL...thanks, was a typo.

[@persistentwind]

@@majboomer1285 all good - it was a recent change from EC to EA!

[@grandlotus1]

Alex, I love the fact that you get right to the point.

[@elimgarak4407]

It needs to be added that the Next Generation Jammer will have AI built into it's core, allowing it to instantly & intelligently analyze & counter enemy EM emissions with DSP on another order of magnitude.

[@VndNvwYvvSvv]

Where did you read that?

[@shayne7300]

RAAF operates Growlers out of my local base.. explaining to someone that the loadout is not "All Bombs" to people that got use to Hornets and F-111's is fun.. Insert "Wut?" Gif..

[@Hikaru109Ichijyo]

I remember seeing a Prowler at an airshow when I was a kid. the 4 man crew was pretty excited to talk about it since the Tomcat, Phantom, and Hornet guys were getting mobbed

[@Achates72]

Stealth and electronic warfare. Two complimentary technologies with great synergy.

[@LillianKelly-f1c]

The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.

[@scraffen]

Great info Alex.

[@TheStormpilgrim]

Pump up the jam! Pump it up!

[@louisquatorze9280]

Good info in a small package. Thanks

[@GIGGIDYGIGGIDYU]

Love this guy!

[@allansmith9004]

I also meant to mention there's a channel called Growler Jams that is very cool to check out.

[@chadpersing5596]

Ah yes.. definitely check it out for a great pilot perspective. ❤

[@reformed1trick739]

This plane is so fucking cool, how did I not know of its existence until now?

[@ljessecusterl]

My dad was an EWO with VQ-1 during the Vietnam War (EC-121J and EP-3E ARIES) and with VAQ-33 (ERA-3B) after. I know for a fact he would kill a man in front of his own mother to fly as an EWO in the Growler. Alex, I'm sure he'd love to talk with you about any of his experiences that have been declassified. He's a fan of your channel.

[@elektrotehnik94]

I'd like that podcast! 🏆❤️

[@colkelley]

Actually, our Deepwell EP-3E (the first one) flew the last combat mission of the Vietnam War and we engaged a North Vietnamese MiG-21 in the last air combat of the war. I managed to get the pilots to take the proper evasive maneuver to defeat the AA-2, but in passing he fired a burst from his 23mm and we got hits in the vertical and port horizontal stabilizers. If one of our linguist Spooks had not spoofed him and ordered him to return to base the second pass would have been the last. My TS/SCI Clearance meant I could not even mention our participation until 2010 and I didn't get my Vietnam Service Medal until 2011.

[@ICB-vl3ym]

Australia has 12 Growlers, available for use in the SW Pacific. And 75 F-35As and 24 F-18F Rhinos. Plus 7 Wedgetail AWACS and tankers.

[@kilmer009]

Awesome, didn't know much about these, thanks for quick educational vid. :)

[@eugenenunn4900]

Well that's freaking insane

[@johngodden4363]

What he didn’t say was that the US is not the only country with these Growlers in service. Australia has 12 of these specialised jets with four more on order.

[@tigerpjm]

Minus one that burnt to the ground...

[@AndrewinAus]

@@tigerpjm That aircraft that had the uncontained engine failure on takeoff was eventually replaced. The squadron is back up to 12 airframes.

[@jbquigley007]

Great update on the F/A-18G Alex. Any new updated info on the F/A-22 upgrades? Also can you explain the TR-3 vs Block 4 upgrades for the F-35? Great work and love the channel!

[@ryszardfalkowski7917]

TR3 is a refresh that's needed in order to add Block 4 features. It's not 1 vs the other.

[@Kriss_L]

EW, ECM, ECCM, & ELINT are definately under appreciated in general.

[@inf3243]

We got ECM, ECCM, IBM, hell we'll throw in M&Ms.

[@rdyer8764]

Great video! Another vote for these short videos when applicable. Thanks.

[@RightWingNutter]

The power supply and mounts for the ALQ-99 is very similar to the ones I worked on in Vietnam. They hung on EA-6s and their loads were very primitive by comparison. This was in the late 60's. But the overall pod looks just like the ones I worked on nearly 60 years ago.

[@Milo_1368]

My favorite warplane just keeps getting better :3

[@maninthemiddleground2316]

5:14 Alex, They’re not just “modular” but they’re software defined so it quickly adapts. ☺️

[@dead-claudia]

oh, software systems of that scale are usually genuinely modular in just their architecture. the western defense industry deserves crap for watering down the term, but this time it's probably a rare case where it's genuinely the right term to use. software-defined signal processing systems are frequently plugin-based, so "modular" is the right thing to call it.

[@dioad1739]

Im so glad you didn’t use the over used phrase game changer, thanks for your great content.

[@FireGoliath]

Imagine going back in time to 1971 and telling the EA-6B program that one day, this will be your replacement and it will be able to death ray enemy RADARs.

[@DriveCarToBar]

And that the next generation of anti-radiation missiles coming along are worlds better than the old Shrike. About the only thing the old Prowler could do that the Growler can't is loiter for a long time.

[@cthulholmhastur5317]

⚡👍. Great episode, Alex! The Growler is one of those pieces of military hardware that make me sleep well. Hehehe 🤓💀

[@LvyHerbery]

The most important thing is transforming our minds, for a new way of thinking, a new outlook: we should strive to develop a new inner world.

[@MeerKatReport]

And as a modular pod, you could put it on a lot of other platforms. Interested in whether these require an engine upgrade to provide the needed electrical power or if the G already had enough juice.

[@VndNvwYvvSvv]

Look closely. They have props on the front as generators.

[@jeffi854]

I’m impressed !

[@doodskie999]

Imagine playing skibidi or cocomelon on the enemies airwaves with this bad boy

[@Justanotherconsumer]

Copyright issues. Probably just getting public domain stuff like speeches by some assistant secretary for USDA or something.

[@dennisdiede]

Bless the US military for their tireless work to protect US. It takes genius to see the future and act on it.

[@Seth90]

you had me at 'modular' 😘

[@ShaggyTDawg]

Is the Growler a two seater? I would assume so, since it does fighter, attack, and EW roles. That'd be a lot for a solo pilot to manage.

[@ryszardfalkowski7917]

I remember Prowlers when they had 4 seats, 2 pilots up front and 2 EW officers in the backseat working diligently because they only had less than 1 min to respond to a missile that was already fired at a friendly aircraft , they did their job and put one of their own anti harm missiles through the opponents radar and confused the incoming missiles. Edit: Growler has 2 seats

[@Sam.From.Wonderland]

The first rule of Electronic Warfare Club is that you don't talk about Electronic Warfare Club.

[@Youtubeuser1aa]

You just broke the rule

[@texasranger24]

Could you do a video about the future of Shorad? Will short range air defense provided by the laser stryker? Will the Bradley replacement IFV XM30 function as an anti air cannon? Should the US look at the SkyRanger / Skynex / millenium gun system? And will there be a Stinger replacement with a better battery, targeting, and most importantly more affordable? Or is this affordable future the APKWS guidance upgrade for the cheap and plentiful Hydra 70mm rocket? Should we slap that on Avenger Hummvees? Or IRIS-T? And how are M-shorad Strykers doing? The new EAGLS?!

[@bryanbradford9421]

Another great video! Curious though, is there anything special about the Growler itself or can any aircraft carry those pods and be a EW bad ass?

[@VndNvwYvvSvv]

That cannot be answered

[@Chilly_Billy]

Another aircraft rarely spoken of but critical to our defense is the P-8 Poseidon.

[@JoyJoan-h2k]

When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you.

[@tomblah]

GrowlerJams KZbin channel talks about it quite a bit

[@RandolphJones-f6p]

Short words are best and the old words when short are best of all.

[@mjk9388]

I know that one of the use cases for the new Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) fighter will be for Electroinic Warfare, but I kind of wonder how many of those you'd have to have to equal the full capability of a F-18 Growler. Seems like there'd be too much equipment to pack away on a smaller plane.

[@colkelley]

😊The real determining factor of how effective any electronic warfare asset is operationally is the EWO. In the end, EW comes down to the intelligence, training and experience of one against that of the other EWO. I had a tour in electronic reconnaissance in the EC-121 and EP-3B/E with VQ-1 (including the evacuation of Saigon - Operation Frequent Wind) and a tour as an electronic aggressor flying the ERA-3B and I hold Military Warfare Subspecialty Code 0046S (electronic warfare). Things have not really changed...no one in the military really knows what EWOs do.

[@michaelputtre7731]

Thanks. Crows don't get enough love.

[@GrefaryTours]

I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.

[@jessed2296]

I can go for a growler of beer right now.

[@BBBrasil]

The amount of energy needed to run those EW's must be very high. I've read somewhere the pilot of the Prowler, Growler's predecessor, could hear the jamming, like a frying sound

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

Wonderful introduction video about Growler electronic gaming aircraft's naval forces of the USA... gaming frequencies of high, medium,and low ranges of enemy airdefencive systems frequencies...

[@raptor1672]

Oi! Australia has Growlers too mate!

[@marcdavis4509]

Can you cover the new wedge tail AWACS or new Compass Call?

[@raptor1672]

The Wedgetail isn't new.....

[@DonaldRosa-s6n]

The greatest minds are capable of the greatest vices as well as of the greatest virtues.

[@adamb8317]

I like that it can just use focused radio waves to melt enemy radars 😂

[@Davethreshold]

"Ivan! What did you say is flying toward you up there?" "I told you, Boris! It's a giant Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt!"

[@ronray4294]

Growler now > Warthog 🤩

[@Justanotherconsumer]

That’s not saying much, tbh.

[@VndNvwYvvSvv]

Huh? They couldn't be more different.

[@mistermonkey5842]

And here I though we were gonna go Skyraider, because that's also a nasty beast.

[@foxglow6798]

Hey I'm sure you're already doing a video on it but just in case you aren't yet, The Warzone published an article going over how the NGAD program is basically starting anew entirely to use more effective 2030s technologies that have started to enter development in just the past few years as opposed to the more expensive set of late 2010s/2020s tech used in the flight demonstrator that was originally intended for the fighter, and that they are focusing significantly more on having NGAD itself used as a UCAV element with fewer piloted airframes to save costs and reduce loss of life, as well as making it more broadly capable to be useful in uncontested airspace, which was a downside of the F-22 which didn't really have a purpose for the majority of it's life.

[@elektrotehnik94]

Thank you, this was very useful to know 🏆❤️ I don't like the delay, but I love that the designers are seriously delving into how to nake it both deadly, useful & cost-effective, in every scenario 💪❤️

[@foxglow6798]

@@elektrotehnik94 Yes this is hopefully a much better outcome than what we had feared with a century fighter program reboot or an outright cancellation. To find out also that new technologies have advanced so far in the past 4 years that they are adding and swapping out new technologies entirely for this reassessment is wild. Let's say for instance radar and IR spoofing is good enough that laser weapons are no longer needed, or a large internal volume is unnecessary due to developments in the low-drag pylon program. My guess is they found an alternative technology to the Adaptive Cycle Engine.

[@joeybulford5266]

I think this just became my new favorite plane. Damn.

[@ElmerEdrn]

What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.

[@sogerc1]

Nice, I didn't know about the EA-18. Those F-18s man, what are they _not_ good for? Do they come with coffee makers and massage chairs?

[@Kriss_L]

Their range is not good.

[@VndNvwYvvSvv]

​@@Kriss_L Big ole fuel tanks on the inboards of a Growler is standard. Refueling. And refueling drones to follow

[@EdgarHornby]

His mind was blown that there was nothing in space except space itself.

[@armandoquintana2185]

The super hornet is such a badass looking jet

[@jameswalker7899]

Some interesting capabilities described here. One wonders whether USN surface combat vessels are equipped with equivalent jamming power?