U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, applauded today’s announcement that the Department of Defense plans to purchase an additional 26 EA-18G Growlers over the next two years to be stationed at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey.  This announcement was included in President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2011 Defense Budget.

“Buying more Growlers will strengthen our national security and support jobs at NAS Whidbey and in the surrounding community,” said Larsen, who serves as a co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Electronic Warfare Working Group. “Growler aircraft will provide superior Electronic Warfare capabilities that are urgently needed around the world.”

Until today, the Navy had planned to purchase and operate only 88 EA-18G Growlers to replace the aging EA-6B Prowlers.  Today’s announcement means that the Navy will purchase a total of 114 Growlers and will continue to deploy these Electronic Attack aircraft both on carriers and on land as “expeditionary” squadrons.  The budget proposes purchasing 12 Growlers in Fiscal Year 2011 and 24 Growlers in Fiscal Year 2012; previous Defense budgets had called for purchasing 10 Growlers in Fiscal Year 2011 and 0 Growlers in Fiscal Year 2012.

“I am proud of the men and women of Naval Air Station Whidbey who continue to be our military’s premiere Electronic Warfare experts.  I will continue to support the work they do to keep our country safe,” Larsen concluded.

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