USAF is pursuing stand-in not standoff jamming capability

The Air Force definitely has cast aside all pursuit of a B-52 standoff jammer, and instead is working on an airborne electronic attack stand-in capability, Air Staff requirements director Maj. Gen. David Scott said Tuesday during an Association of Old Crows symposium in Washington. After his speech, he also told the Daily Report that USAF would like to fly on the Navy’s EA-18G Growler escort jamming aircraft. 

Scott said he’d like to see a continuation of the arrangement wherein USAF crew flew on Navy EA-6B Prowlers. The arrangement was set to expire with the retirement of the Prowler.

Scott said the Air Force recognizes that the Growler has two seats vice the Prowler’s four, and that there will only be 90 of them, versus 120 of the EA-6B. However, he said the collaboration has provided invaluable benefits in electronic warfare jointness, "and we don’t want to lose that."

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