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.
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