By Geoff Fein
The Navy will deploy the first EA-18G Growler squadron from a land-based location in support of ground troops, according to a service official.
Additionally, the service’s vertical takeoff unmanned air vehicle (VTUAV) Fire Scout will soon deploy from the USS Halyburton (FFG-40), Thomas Laux, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Air Programs) (DASN (Air)), told Defense Daily recently.
Laux said the Navy is now delivering Boeing’s [BA] EA-18G to the squadron based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
“The aircraft is through all its operational testing. [We are] getting the deployment schedule put together as rapidly as possible,” Laux said. “The Navy has decided, in response to world events, to send the first squadrons in an expeditionary role as opposed to an aircraft carrier.”
The service is gearing up for meeting that challenge, he added.
Laux noted the Navy is in the process now of finishing up its analysis of alternatives (AoA) for the EA-18G’s next generation jammer. That technology will replace the current system, the ALQ-99, which was taken from the EA-6B Prowler.
Laux said key enhancements were made to integrate the ALQ-99 on the Growler. “But it is still older technology. We are pressing through the AoA for the next generation jammer.”
The new system is expected to go into initial operational capability (IOC) in 2018, he added.
The Navy is also restructuring the schedule for the CH-53K, the heavy lift replacement for the 53-E, Laux noted.
“The 53K development is proceeding on track. It got off initially to a bit of a slow start. Since that time we have gotten better schedules. We have a good understanding with the prime contractor over where we are going both near-term and into the future,” Laux said. “We have proposed a schedule restructure which will reflect a better estimate of the schedule required and [we are] taking a look at adjusting the first flight and IOC to reflect that.”
Overall, Sikorsky‘s [UTX] CH-53K is a much needed capability, Laux said. “The 53E has been quite the workhorse of the fleet.
“It’s time for a technology upgrade and we are very optimistic the aircraft will deliver,” he added. “It satisfies all key performance parameters the Marine Corps has set out for that particular aircraft. We are very encouraged by the testing done to date at the component level, and are working with the prime to take it through the development program.”
The Navy’s FY ’11 budget funding profile leads to an IOC date of 2018 for the CH-53K, Laux said.
“The real beauty of that aircraft is that it is so capable as a heavy lifter and yet is sized to fit on air-capable ships,” he said. “It is the only aircraft in the world that is big enough to get a heavy lifting job done and compact enough to where it can function and function well at sea.”
Northrop Grumman‘s [NOC] Fire Scout will head back out to sea aboard the Halyburton for further testing and deployment after completing a tour aboard the USS McInerney (FFG-8), Laux said.
“Fire Scout is the first unmanned air system we will be deploying aboard a ship for real,” Laux said.
As to the eventual payloads for Fire Scout, Laux said that will be determined as the Navy continues to learn what the platform’s capabilities are.
“The role of that unmanned system is to extend the warfighting capability of the ship, so when you think of all the things a ship is responsible for, the question is how can an unmanned air system help extend that capability, capacity,” he said.
Fire Scout can extend the sensor horizon of a ship right off the bat, Laux noted. The VTUAV will extend a ship’s communications horizon and line of sight communications.
“Certainly, one of the roles of a ship is to deliver weapons, so if there is an opportunity to extend that capability we are going to look at what is involved in doing that,” Laux said. “But that is not the first thing we are going to do. Sensors are going to come first. That is the ability right now we most need to provide an expansion on.”
Fire Scout will start off with an infrared sensor and the Navy will take a look at adding overtime radar capability, multi-sensor capability, for the different mission space that is the ship’s area of responsibility, Laux added.