Growler EW surge

U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler electronic-warfare jets appear to be surging into the Middle East as operations over Iran continue and reports point to more aircraft moving toward Israel. (theaviationist.com) Open-source reports this week said 12 additional Growlers were heading toward Nevatim Air Base in Israel after stopping at Lajes in Portugal, which would bring the U.S. Central Command total to about 36 aircraft if all arrive. Those claims were circulated by military-watch accounts and echoed in other open-source reporting, but the Pentagon had not publicly confirmed that exact number as of April 23, 2026. (youtube.com) What is confirmed is that Growlers are already flying combat missions in Operation Epic Fury. U.S. Central Command said the campaign began on February 28, 2026, and official imagery published on March 2 showed an EA-18G from Electronic Attack Squadron 133 launching from USS Abraham Lincoln in support of the operation. (centcom.mil) A Growler is built to attack radars and military networks rather than drop the largest bombs. Boeing says the jet is designed for electronic attack that can detect, target and deny enemy radars, communications and networks, and the Navy says its primary role is suppressing enemy air defenses. (boeing.com) (cnrnw.cnic.navy.mil) That mission is central in a campaign against Iran, where U.S. and Israeli aircraft have to pass through layered air-defense zones. Photos released in March showed Growlers flying with four AGM-88 anti-radiation missiles, a heavier-than-usual load associated with hunting radar sites and opening corridors for other strike aircraft. (theaviationist.com) The numbers also show how concentrated the deployment would be if the 36-aircraft figure is accurate. The Navy’s Electronic Attack Wing says each operational Growler squadron typically has four aircraft, so 36 jets would equal the rough aircraft strength of nine expeditionary squadrons. (cnrnw.cnic.navy.mil) The hardware on those jets is changing at the same time. Raytheon said on April 20 that the Royal Australian Air Force had received its first Next Generation Jammer pods for EA-18G operations, with the first shipsets delivered ahead of schedule in September 2025 and more deliveries continuing through 2026. (theaviationist.com) The Next Generation Jammer is the new version of the Growler’s main electronic weapon, carried in external pods under the wings. Naval Air Systems Command says the system is meant to disrupt, deny, degrade and deceive enemy air defenses and communications, replacing the older ALQ-99 system in stages across different frequency bands. (navair.navy.mil) Australia is the only foreign operator of the EA-18G, with 12 Growlers assigned to No. 6 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley. Raytheon and NAVAIR describe the jammer program as a joint U.S.-Australian effort, which means allied crews are moving onto the same newer electronic-attack architecture as U.S. Navy squadrons. (theaviationist.com) (navair.navy.mil) For now, the clearest public picture is this: Growlers are already in combat over Iran, more may be on the way to Israel, and the aircraft’s newest jamming gear is starting to spread to allied fleets as the air war leans harder on electronic attack. (centcom.mil) (theaviationist.com)