Boeing to Design Training System for EA-18G EW Aircraft
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The Boeing Co. in St. Louis, MO received an $8.3 million ceiling-priced modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract (N00019-04-C-0005) to provide modeling and simulation, design, and development for a training system for the EA-18G electronic attack version of the Super Hornet aircraft. This is added to the 5-year, $979 million Dec. 2003 base contract for overall System Design & Development of the EA-18G, and a $7 million Sept. 2004 supplemental for additional fault isolation in the ALQ-218 (V)2 Tactical Jamming Receiver, for a current contract total of $994.3 million.
The EA-18G Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) system was selected by the U. S. Navy to replace the aging EA-6B Prowler, which is now the USA’s sole remaining aircraft for tactical radar jamming, communications jamming and information operations…
The EA-18G is based on Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet multi-role fighter (which traces its history from the McDonnell Douglas F-18 and the Northrop YF-17), just as its predecessor the EA-6B was based on Grumman’s A-6 Intruder attack aircraft. Boeing plans to fly the first production EA-18G in October 2007, with Initial Operating Capability for the EA-18G expected in 2009.
This Alalisi Defensa article provides good background re: the overall program, including several of its cost-saving features.
Work on this contract modification will be performed in St. Louis, MO (50%), and Arlington, TX (50%) and is expected to be complete in June 2008. The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD issued the contract.
