Summary and Key Points You Need to Know: The U.S. Navy confirmed its first air-to-air kill by an EA-18G Growler from VAQ-130, downing a Houthi drone in the Red Sea.

-The Growlers, part of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower’s air wing, also used AGM-88E missiles to destroy a Mi-24/35 helicopter on the ground.

-VAQ-130 conducted nearly 700 combat missions and seven strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen to protect commercial vessels. Commander Carl Ellsworth praised the squadron’s performance under challenging conditions.

-The EA-18G Growler, an electronic warfare derivative of the F/A-18 Super Hornet, replaced the EA-6B Prowler and has now proven its combat capabilities.

U.S. Navy Confirms First EA-18G Growler Air-to-Air Kill

Last month, reports circulated that a United States Navy EA-18G successfully downed a Houthi drone while deployed to the Red Sea, operating from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). It has now been confirmed that the Boeing EA-18G Growler—an electronic warfare (EW) derivative of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the U.S. Navy’s twin-engine workhorse carrier-based strike fighter—from Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130) the “Zappers” had scored the aircraft’s first air-to-air kill.

In addition, the Growlers operating as the Eisenhower’s air wing also employed the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM) for the first time in combat during the recent deployment. The ordnance was employed to destroy a Mi-24/35 (NATO reporting name “Hind”) attack helicopter while on the ground. TheWarZone first noted the appearance of a “kill mark” on a Growler deployed on CVN-69 last month.

A drone kill marking, and two other “victory marks” that denoted successful air-to-ground strikes, could be seen in a video shared on social media by Captain Chris “Chowdah” Hill, commanding officer of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.

“In Operation Yukon Lightning, VAQ-130 conducted seven pre-planned, dedicated strikes into Houthi-controlled Yemen and executed nearly 700 combat missions to degrade the Houthi capability to threaten innocent shipping. The aviators of the squadron saw malicious, indiscriminate use of Iranian-sponsored Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles (ASBMs), Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles (ASCMs) and one-way attack (OWA) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and supported the launch of over 120 standard missiles and dozens of Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs) by U.S. and coalition assets in self-defense,” the U.S. Navy said in a statement.

The Growlers of VAQ-130 had taken part in seven strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, along with almost 700 combat sorties to degrade the militant group’s ability to threaten commercial vessel traffic in the region. The intensity of the operations was noted by Commander Carl Ellsworth, squadron leader of VAQ-130.

“I can’t remember the last time the Navy had a more challenging deployment with a combination of multiple extensions, severely limited opportunities for R&R, and true combat,” said Ellsworth. And “…not just for aviators, but the crew of the whole strike group as well, in the most kinetic action at sea since World War II. Words can’t do justice to how proud I am of this ‘Zapper’ Team which performed their duty in combat amidst incredibly challenging circumstances for months on end, frequently not knowing what each day would bring. The best of our country is right here at VAQ-130.”

The EA-18G Growler in the Crosshairs

The United States Navy’s EA-18G Growler is similar in appearance to the F/A-18 Super Hornet, but is a very different aircraft, even as the aircraft share 90 percent commonality.

As previously reported by The National Interest, “The EA-18G Growler version of the F/A-18 was built as a replacement for the Navy’s previous carrier-borne EW aircraft, the EA-6B Prowler, which was retired in 2019 after 48 years of faithful service.”

Whereas the Super Hornet is a multirole fighter, capable of conducting a wide array of mission profiles, the Growler was developed specifically as an electronic warfare aircraft that can be employed to identify, disrupt, and destroy an enemy’s air defense system. The EA-18G Growler made its combat debut in 2011, enforcing a United Nations no-fly zone over Libya during Operation Odyssey Dawn, but until the recent deployment to the Red Sea with the Eisenhower carrier strike group hadn’t had any air-to-air kills.

The Zappers now have proven this is a true warbird.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

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