Australian Growlers Set to Arrive in 2017
The EA-18G Growler is an electronic warfare variant of the Super Hornet that has the ability to disrupt or jam a range of military electronics systems, including radars and communications systems. (image : Aus DoD)

All 12 EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft on order for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will arrive in Australia in 2017, defence sources have told IHS Jane's .

The sources were expanding on an Australian Department of Defence (DoD) press release in mid-November disclosing that the RAAF's first pilot instructor has begun training in the United States on US Navy (USN) EA-18Gs, and will begin flying RAAF Growlers in 2017. The release gave no further information on aircraft delivery.

A DoD spokesperson said that under current plans, the RAAF's first EA-18G would be in production as early as 2015, and the first aircraft would arrive in Australia in 2017.

Janes