- "These EW aircraft move too slow!"
- ― Enchanter Squadron pilot[1]
The EA-18G Growler is an electronic warfare variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet. It was built to replace the EA-6B Prowler in the role of tactical jamming.
The EA-18G has sporadically appeared in the Ace Combat franchise. It was introduced in Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War and Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, but was not featured again until Ace Combat Infinity. It did not make it into the initial release of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, but the EA-18G appeared as a non-playable aircraft in the game's first DLC mission, "Unexpected Visitor".
History[]
Strangereal[]
During the Belkan War, the Belkan Air Force operated the Growler. Notable pilots include Belkan aces Lamar Zimmermann and Lars Matthaus.
In the Usean coup d'état, the Growler was utilised by Beast Squadron during their second battle with the Scarface Squadron over Comona Islands.[2][3]
During the Circum-Pacific War, Yuktobanian ace, callsign "Abelcain", engaged the advancing Osean Army during their advance into the Jilachi Desert. During the battle, he was ultimately shot down by Wardog Squadron.[4]
EA-18Gs were also fielded in the Lighthouse War by both the Osean Maritime Defense Force and the Erusean Air Force. During Operation Sighthound, Osea's Enchanter Squadron and the Erusean forces defending the Alicorn utilized the aircraft.[1]
Infinity universe[]
Growlers were available for use by United Nations Forces pilots during Operation Eternal Liberation.
Game Analysis[]
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown[]
How to Unlock
- This aircraft is not available to the player.
Gallery
An Osean Maritime Defense Force EA-18G belonging to Enchanter Squadron
Another EA-18G belong to Enchanter Squadron
An Erusean Air Force EA-18G
Ace Combat Infinity[]
- "The latest electronic fighter, capable of being carried on a carrier. Along with being able to carry a pod for electronic warfare, being based on the F/A-18F makes it easy to handle, making it an electronic fighter with stable flight capabilities and high firepower. Its nickname is the "Growler"."
- ― Hangar
How to Unlock
- The EA-18G is available through the Aircraft Tree.
| Lv. | Cst | Price | GUN | MSL | ESM | LASM | ECM | SP | MO | ST | AA | AG | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 625 | 281,600 | 413 | 114 | 3 | – | – | E | D | D+ | D+ | D | E |
| 2 | 665 | 42,240 | 454 | 116 | 4 | – | – | E+ | D | D+ | D+ | D | E+ |
| 3 | 705 | 70,400 | 495 | 118 | 5 | – | – | D | D+ | C | C | D+ | E+ |
| 4 | 745 | 112,640 | 536 | 120 | 6 | 12 | – | D+ | D+ | C | C | C | D |
| 5 | 785 | 168,960 | 578 | 124 | 7 | 14 | – | D+ | C | C+ | C | C | D+ |
| 6 | 825 | 436,480[a] | 619 | 128 | 8 | 16 | – | C | C | C+ | C | C | C |
| 7 | 865 | 197,120 | 660 | 132 | 9 | 18 | 11 | C | C+ | C+ | C+ | C+ | C+ |
| 8 | 905 | 246,400 | 702 | 136 | 10 | 20 | 12 | C+ | B | C+ | C+ | C+ | B |
| 9 | 945 | 478,720 | 743 | 140 | 11 | 21 | 13 | C+ | B | B | B | C+ | B+ |
| 10 | 985 | 901,120 | 785 | 144 | 12 | 22 | 14 | B | B+ | B | B | B | A+ |
| 11 | 1032 | 1,802,240 | 826 | 148 | 13 | 23 | 15 | B+ | B+ | B+ | B | B | A+ |
| 12 | 1079 | 1,422,080 | 867 | 152 | 14 | 24 | 16 | B+ | A | B+ | B+ | B | S |
| 13 | 1126 | 2,647,040 | 909 | 156 | 15 | 25 | 17 | A | A+ | A | B+ | B+ | S |
| 14 | 1173 | 3,604,480 | 950 | 160 | 16 | 26 | 18 | A+ | A+ | A | B+ | B+ | S+ |
| 15 | 1220 | 4,547,840 | 992 | 164 | 18 | 28 | 20 | S | S | A+ | A | A | S+ |
| 16 | 1281 | 6,589,440 | 1030 | 166 | 19 | 29 | 21 | S | S | A+ | A | A | S+ |
| 17 | 1340 | 7,518,720 | 1069 | 168 | 20 | 30 | 22 | S+ | S+ | A+ | A | A | S+ |
| 18 | 1399 | 8,462,080 | 1107 | 170 | 21 | 31 | 23 | S+ | S+ | S | A+ | A+ | S+ |
| 19 | 1458 | 10,813,440 | 1146 | 172 | 22 | 32 | 24 | S+ | S+ | S | A+ | A+ | S+ |
| 20 | 1517 | 13,643,520 | 1185 | 174 | 24 | 34 | 26 | S+ | S+ | S | S | S | S++ |
- Part Slots
- At Lv.1, this aircraft carried 28 BODY, 28 ARMS, and 28 MISC part slots. See Tuning § Slot Expansion for further information.
- Nicknames
- Upgrading this aircraft to these levels unlocked the respective nicknames for use at any time.
- Lv.3: Guardian Deity
- Lv.10: Electronics Magician
- Lv.15: Electronic Killer
- Lv.20: Cyber Rhino
Skin Galleries
Description
- Light gray body
Gallery
Flyby
Hangar
Description
- Dark blue with silver lines
Availability
- Special Challenges
- Purchase from the Special Supply catalogue for 100 (August 1, 2016–permanent)
Gallery
Flyby
Flyby
Flyby
Hangar view
Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War[]
- "This carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft is a modified version of the F/A-18. Its primary role is to minimize threat to itself and the squadron by jamming enemy radar. It is often employed when an enemy offensive is apparent."
- ― Hangar
How to Unlock
- Complete mission 14C: The Final Overture - Jupiter Strike Team. Costs 109,000 credits.
Statistics
- Speed: 78
- Mobility: 75
- Stability: 74
- Defense: 52
- Air-to-Air: 65
- Air-to-Ground: 69
Weapons
Colors
- Standard: Air superiority gray
- Mercenary: Two-tone gray with black nose
- Soldier: Three-tone brown with grey nose
- Knight: Ocean blue camouflage with white nose
- Special: Two-tone light blue camouflage
Named Pilots
- Nebelbank
- Wolkenwand
- Springer
- Wolkenmeer
Gallery
Standard color
Mercenary color
Soldier color
Knight color
Special color
Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War[]
- "This carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft is a modified version of the F/A-18. Its primary role is to minimize threat to the squadron by jamming enemy radar."
- ― Hangar
How to Unlock
- Fill the Kill Rate Gauge of the F/A-18E Super Hornet. Costs Ƶ21,000 per plane.
Statistics
- Speed: 78
- Mobility: 75
- Stability: 74
- Defense: 52
- Air-to-Air: 65
- Air-to-Ground: 69
Weapons
Colors
- OS: Air superiority gray
- RZ: Razgiz black with red tail tips
- SP: Checkered 2-tone green; based on the CF-18 Hornet of the 441 Tactical Fighter Squadron
Named Pilots
- Abelcain (Desert Lightning)
Gallery
OMDF color in the hangar
Razgriz color in the hangar
Abelcain's Growler
Abelcain
Trivia[]
- In real life, the EA-18G Growler does not feature the F/A-18F Super Hornet's wingtip missiles or nose-mounted gun.
- In Ace Combat 5 and Zero, the Growler is simply a reused F/A-18F and has both wingtip missiles and the nose-mounted gun. This may have been based on the conceptual Airborne Electronic Attack variant of the Growler, first flown in 2001.[5]
- In Ace Combat 6 and Assault Horizon, the F/A-18F could be equipped with the AN/ALQ-99 when using ECM, making it similar to to how the Growler looked in past games, but without wasting an aircraft slot.
- In Infinity and Ace Combat 7, the Growler's wingtip missiles are replaced by the receiver antennas it has in real life, but it still featured the nose-mounted gun. The Growler in these two games are similar to a proposed variant that would have hybridized features of the Growler and Super Hornet.[6]
Footnotes[]
- ↑ Players could use one Nonstandard Upgrade Request Form instead of credits for the Lv.6 upgrade.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 SP Mission 01: "Unexpected Visitor", Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
- ↑ Toy Box. Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy.
- ↑ EA-18G -Beast- hangar description. Ace Combat Infinity.
- ↑ "Desert Lightning", Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War
- ↑ Boeing Successfully Completes Initial Flight Demonstration of EA-18 Airborne Electronic Attack Variant. MediaRoom. Published November 15, 2001. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
- ↑ Boeing plots hybrid Super Hornet/Growler future. Flightglobal. Published June 25, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
