Future Electronic Attack Aircraft

[Mike P.]

With the EF-111 Raven retired and the Navy/Marines EA-6B Prowler filling the
electronic attack role for all services - does anyone know what is planned
for the future in terms electronic attack aircraft for USAF to fill the role
once filled by the Raven?

It looks like the EA-6B will be replaced by an electronic attack version of
the super hornet (EA-18G Growler) - but will this be only for the USN/USMC,
or will it be a multi-service asset?

Does the USAF have anything in mind for a future electronic attack aircraft?

[Thomas Schoene]

Mike P. wrote:
> With the EF-111 Raven retired and the Navy/Marines EA-6B Prowler
> filling the electronic attack role for all services - does anyone
> know what is planned for the future in terms electronic attack
> aircraft for USAF to fill the role once filled by the Raven?
>
> It looks like the EA-6B will be replaced by an electronic attack
> version of the super hornet (EA-18G Growler) - but will this be only
> for the USN/USMC, or will it be a multi-service asset?

I posted some links on this not too long ago. A Google Groups search on
EB-52 or EF-22 might turn up the post.

One of the links mentioned that the Navy apparently wants out of the Air
Expeditionary Force job by 2012. In a sense that means they go back to
being Navy/Marine only assets (and perhaps Navy only, since the Mairnes
don't want any Super Hornet airframes if they can avoid it.)

Of course, in a joint air campaign, everything is a joint asset, and a Navy
EF-18 squadron could still be tasked to support Air Force strikers, but the
coordination won't be as good.

>
> Does the USAF have anything in mind for a future electronic attack
> aircraft?

Near term, it looks like the B-52 will get some EA capability. Long term is
still unsettled. Probably mostly UAVs would be my guess.
--
Tom Schoene Replace "invalid" with "net" to e-mail
"Our country, right or wrong. When right, to be kept right, when
wrong to be put right." - Senator Carl Schurz, 1872