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Defence Industry Minister, Melissa Price has announced a four-year extension to the maintenance and sustainment contract to support the Royal Australian Air Force's fleet of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growler aircraft at RAAF Base Amberley.
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Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price, welcomed the extension to the Air Combat Electronic Attack Sustainment Contract and said it was an endorsement of Boeing’s performance and support of local workers.
“The contract, valued at $280 million, provides a highly-experienced maintenance, engineering, supply, project management, and weapon system integrator workforce to Defence,” Minister Price said.
“This partnership continues to recognise Boeing’s commitment and performance in supporting these Air Force capabilities.”
“Australian industry workforce is vital to the ongoing sustainment and regular upgrades critical to the Super Hornet and Growler capabilities,” Minister Price said.
Over 90 per cent of the Air Combat and Electronic Attack Sustainment Contract is being delivered by Australian industry through 230 Boeing Defence Australia and sub‑contractor personnel, based in the Amberley region
This latest contract is an extension to the initial five-year contract signed in August 2016. The contract also involved subcontractors including Raytheon Australia, Northrop Grumman Australia and Pacific Aerospace.
The RAAF operates 24 Boeing-manufactured F/A-18F Super Hornet multi-role combat aircraft and 11 EA-18G Growler Electronic Attack aircraft with No. 1 and 6 Squadrons operating from Amberley.
The F/A-18F Super Hornets are based at Number 1 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley.
After achieving Final Operational Capability in December 2012, they have participated in a range of exercises and operations, including:
- Exercise Pitch Black in the Northern Territory;
- Exercise Bersama Shield on the Malaysian Peninsula; and
- Operation OKRA in the Middle East.
The F/A-18F Super Hornet is larger than the F/A-18A/B Hornet. The aircraft's increased wing area allows it to carry more stores (mounted devices) on its additional hardpoints.
The EA-18G Growler is an electronic attack aircraft. Growler is capable of disrupting, deceiving or denying a broad range of military electronic systems, including radars and communications.
Based on F/A-18E/F Super Hornet variant of the wildly successful Boeing Hornet, the EA-18G Growler has proven itself to be an invaluable asset to the US when deployed overseas.
The Growler incorporates a number of advancements over the traditional Super Hornet, including:
- An additional avionics suite;
- Enhanced radio frequency receivers;
- An improved communications suite; and
- ALQ radio-frequency jamming pods, which enable it to jam enemy systems.
Australia's fleet of 11 EA-18G Growlers will be based at RAAF Base Amberley and operate in conjunction with the air, land and sea forces.
Initially purchased alongside the more traditional Super Hornet variants to supplement Australia's ageing fleet of classic Hornets and the diminished strike capability following the retirement of the F-111s, prior to the full integration of the Air Force's 72 planned F-35s, IOC is expected to be delivered to the RAAF in the coming months.
Australia's Growlers were part of a larger US Navy buy of 44 Super Hornets and Growlers in July 2014, with the first Australian EA-18G making its first flight in July 2015.
