Why is Germany buying the EA-18 Growlers instead of building a SEAD version of the Eurofighter Typhoon?
Why is Germany buying the EA-18 Growlers instead of building a SEAD version of the Eurofighter Typhoon? Germany’s decision to buy the Boeing EA-18G Growler for the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) role, instead of developing a SEAD version of the Eurofighter Typhoon, was influenced by several factors:
Capability Gap and Timeline:
The EA-18G Growler is a proven, specialized electronic warfare aircraft with well-established capabilities in SEAD missions, including jamming enemy radar and communications. Developing a comparable SEAD variant of the Eurofighter would take significant time, and Germany required a timely replacement for its aging Tornado ECR fleet.
Operational Experience:
The EA-18G Growler has been in service since 2009 and has extensive operational experience, particularly in electronic warfare. Germany’s adoption of this platform provides access to NATO-standard electronic warfare systems and tactics, reducing the time and cost required to develop, test, and integrate a similar capability on the Eurofighter.
Cost Considerations:
Developing a new SEAD variant of the Eurofighter Typhoon would require extensive research and development, integration of new sensors, electronic warfare pods, and avionics. This effort would be costly compared to purchasing an off-the-shelf solution like the EA-18G Growler.
NATO Interoperability:
Germany’s participation in NATO exercises and missions is a key factor. By procuring the EA-18G, Germany aligns its electronic warfare capabilities more closely with other NATO members, such as the United States and Australia, which also operate the Growler. This helps ensure better interoperability during joint operations.
Nuclear Sharing Commitments:
Germany is also acquiring the F-18 Super Hornet, which has been certified for NATO’s nuclear sharing mission. Acquiring both the Super Hornet and Growler ensures that Germany can fulfill multiple roles—nuclear strike and SEAD—while benefiting from common logistics, training, and maintenance systems.
In summary, the decision was driven by a combination of time constraints, cost, the desire for a proven capability, and ensuring NATO interoperability, making the EA-18G Growler the preferred choice over developing a SEAD-capable Eurofighter Typhoon.
