[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense video] Is Domestic Development of Growler Possible?

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] Our military has decided to independently develop an electronic warfare aircraft, but concerns continue to arise. Electronic warfare aircraft can disrupt radio waves to neutralize enemy air defense radars, making them an effective strategic weapon in the early stages of conflict. Our military plans to develop an electronic warfare aircraft based on the U.S. Navy's EA-18G Growler class. However, both inside and outside the military, there are criticisms that direct importation would be more beneficial for strengthening military power than investing over 2 trillion won in the project.

The military has decided to proceed with the electronic warfare aircraft development as a domestic research and development project through preliminary research. The military signed a contract at the end of 2022 and plans to complete development and production over eight years from 2023 to 2031. The total project cost is 2.5 trillion won.

However, even within the military, there are already disputes. The issue concerns the type of electronic warfare aircraft. The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) prefers a transport-type aircraft (C-130) for easier system integration, while the Air Force is known to favor a business jet that offers advantages in speed and altitude.

The U.S. military is already enhancing the performance of the existing Growler. The U.S. Navy has succeeded in remotely controlling two Growlers from another aircraft. The Growler is a two-seat electronic warfare attack aircraft based on the F/A-18F Super Hornet and is the successor to the long-range electronic warfare EF-111 Raven since 1998. Flying at Mach 1.8 with a combat radius of 722 km, the Growler is equipped with AN/ALQ-99F jamming pods, AN/APG-79 multifunctional phased array (AESA) radar, AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, and AGM-88 anti-radar missiles, enabling it to disrupt or destroy various enemy radars.

The Growler also has extensive combat experience. It was commissioned at the end of 2009 and participated in Operation Odyssey Dawn, the airstrike on Libya in March 2011. In 2017, it took part in Vigilant ACE, the largest-ever joint air exercise.

Japan is also accelerating the introduction of the Growler. The Growler acquisition has already been included in Japan's 2019?2023 Mid-Term Defense Program. Currently, Japan possesses measurement and training aircraft that collect radio wave information but does not have attack aircraft. Japan's introduction of electronic warfare attack aircraft is partly a response to China establishing the Strategic Support Force responsible for electronic warfare and focusing on deploying electronic attack aircraft. The Japanese government, which adopts the principle of exclusive defense (defense force can only be exercised if attacked), relies on the U.S. for attacking enemy bases.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.