Wed, Mar 23, 2011 page3

• US jet success may be good for Taiwan

  ’GROWLER’ SHOWS BITE: Jamming aircraft such as the EA-18G are equipped with electronic countermeasures to provide protection for forces on the ground and in the air

  • By William Lowther / Staff Reporter in WASHINGTON
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  The ongoing military action against Libya could provide some good news for Taiwan, defense officials said.

  The US Navy’s new EA-18G “Growler,” an electronic warfare aircraft, has been seeing its first combat experience in the military action against Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi and has reportedly been performing well. Given its capabilities, the aircraft could play a vital role in the defense of Taiwan should the US intervene in any armed conflict in the Taiwan Strait.

  One military Web site reported: “As the United Nations-sanctioned war against Libya moves into its third day, no US, French or British aircraft have been shot down by Libyan air defenses. Part of the credit should go to the Navy’s new jammer.”

  

  An EA-18G “Growler” lands on Saturday at the NATO airbase in Aviano, Italy.

  Photo: Reuters

  US Vice Admiral Bill Gortney told media that the EA-18G had provided electronic warfare support to the coalition’s attack.

  Jammers such as the EA-18G are platforms equipped with electronic countermeasures providing an umbrella of protection for ground and air forces by jamming enemy radar, electronic data links and communications systems.

  While details remain classified, the “Growler” — which is replacing the Navy’s EA-6B “Prowler” jammer fleet — is believed to have located and disabled the communications systems used by Libyan tank columns and defeated surface-to-air missiles, thus enabling the coalition to launch air strikes against ground forces.

  Sources said the Growler would soon have the capability to insert viruses into enemy command networks, causing electronic chaos.

  “The Growler’s performance could certainly be good news for Taiwan,” John Pike, head of the Washington-based Global Security think tank, told the Taipei Times. “While China has more advanced equipment than Libya, the US remains about twenty years ahead of Beijing.”

  “It’s a cat and mouse game of measures and counter-measures, but with the latest US advances we can probably blind the Chinese radars. And if they can’t see us, they can’t hit us,” he said.

  A specialized version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet, the Growler has become a Pentagon priority. Two years ago, the Pentagon decided to buy more Growlers rather than continue production of the F-22 stealth fighter.

  A US defense expert said the US Navy’s “real plan” for winning any future air war with China was to attack “where they’re most vulnerable” — in the electromagnetic spectrum.

  The star of that spectrum, experts said, is the Growler.

  Asked about China’s development of a new stealth aircraft and long-range anti-ship missiles earlier this year, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said that China’s “anti-access programs” were being dealt with.

  In particular, Gates’ aides mentioned China’s efforts to impede US access in any conflict over Taiwan.

  Gates said at the time that the US would speed up its development of electronic jammers to improve the ability to fight and survive in an anti-access environment.
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