Why the EA-18G Growler Targets Radars, Not Missiles DEFENSE NEWS TODAY

Introduction: The Role of the EA-18G Growler

The EA-18G Growler is the United States Navy’s dedicated airborne electronic attack aircraft. Derived from the F/A-18F Super Hornet, it combines a proven strike fighter platform with advanced jamming systems. Designed to replace the ageing EA-6B Prowler, the Growler is the first purpose-built electronic warfare aircraft in decades. Its mission is simple but vital—deny the enemy the ability to see, track, or strike effectively.

Unlike conventional fighters, the Growler carries an electronic arsenal: the ALQ-218 receiver, ALQ-99 jamming pods, ALQ-227 communication countermeasures, and soon the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) ALQ-249. It also employs the APG-79 AESA radar, enabling both situational awareness and offensive support. Yet many analysts question why the EA-18G Growler primarily targets lower-frequency radars instead of the seekers of incoming missiles, despite its technical capability to do so.

The EA-18G Growler and Its Jamming Power

Electronic attack is about disrupting the enemy’s electromagnetic spectrum. The Growler achieves this through six jamming sources—two transmitters in each of its three pods. However, not all transmitters cover all frequencies. Radars are divided into bands, roughly ten in total, but the Growler’s six transmitters cannot blanket every range simultaneously.

Why the EA-18G Growler Targets Radars, Not Missiles

This limitation forces Growler crews to make strategic trade-offs. They plan each mission around the most dangerous threats—usually large surveillance or fire-control radars that operate at lower frequencies. These radars guide surface-to-air missile batteries, control air defence networks, and provide long-range early warnings. By suppressing them, the Growler cripples an adversary’s entire defensive infrastructure.

Why the EA-18G Growler Focuses on Low-Frequency Radars

Large radars often feature massive antenna arrays. Bigger antennas generally mean lower-frequency operation, and these frequencies are crucial for early detection and tracking of stealth aircraft. For this reason, the EA-18G Growler devotes most of its jamming power to disrupting these long-range sensors.

By targeting these systems, Growler crews blind enemy networks, giving friendly aircraft freedom to operate. This strategy reflects efficiency: it is better to jam one powerful radar that directs dozens of missile batteries than to waste transmitters on single missile seekers.

Can the EA-18G Growler jam missiles?

The short answer: yes, the EA-18G Growler can jam missile radars. Its pods are capable of broadcasting interference in the same frequency ranges used by missile seekers and fire-control radars. Pilots carry at least one transmitter tuned for this role. However, doing so comes with grave risks.

Many modern missiles are equipped with Home-on-Jam (HOJ) or Track-on-Jam (TOJ) capability. When the Growler emits jamming signals against a missile, the seeker can lock directly onto the source of that interference. Instead of blinding the missile, the Growler effectively turns itself into a beacon—guiding the weapon straight to its fuselage.

This is why pilots avoid jamming missiles directly. As one former EA-18G Growler pilot explained, “It would be suicide. All you’ve done is make yourself a shiny, bright target.”

The Smart Balance: Radar vs Missile Jamming

The growler doctrine therefore prioritises systemic suppression over tactical desperation. By jamming long-range radars, the aircraft prevents missile launches in the first place. If a missile is already in flight, pilots rely on kinetic defences (decoys, manoeuvres, and escorts with AMRAAMs) rather than jamming them.

That said, advances in spoofing technologies mean the Growler may still have classified tricks for confusing missiles. But operationally, the philosophy is clear: focus on degrading the enemy’s radar networks rather than engaging individual missiles.

The Future: Next Generation Jamming Pods

The forthcoming AN/ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer will replace the decades-old ALQ-99. Offering higher output power, digital beamforming, and greater frequency agility, the NGJ will significantly expand the Growler’s ability to counter multiple bands simultaneously.

This modernisation will improve efficiency against both low-frequency surveillance radars and high-frequency fire control systems, ensuring the EA-18G Growler remains the backbone of airborne electronic warfare well into the 2030s.

Conclusion: Why the Growler Matters

The EA-18G Growler embodies the principle of prioritising electromagnetic warfare over kinetic warfare. By prioritising low-frequency radar jamming, the Growler weakens an adversary’s air defence fundamentally, leaving missile systems vulnerable. While the aircraft technically can jam missile seekers, doing so is a last resort—one fraught with risk due to Home-on-Jam technologies.

In modern air combat, the Growler is less about out-dogfighting and more about out-thinking—denying the enemy the signals it needs to fight at all. For NATO and allied forces, its presence ensures air superiority is maintained not only through speed and stealth but also through the invisible dominance of the spectrum.