In a historic milestone, a US Navy EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft, deployed to the Red Sea aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (a.k.a “Ike”), has achieved its first aerial kill.
The pilot of Electronic Attack Squadron 130, also known as the “Zappers,” carried out the successful engagement. During their deployment, the squadron played a crucial role in defending commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden from persistent Houthi attacks.
Operating in a volatile region, the “Zappers” collaborated with other elements of the carrier air wing, providing the Navy with essential airborne electronic warfare capabilities.
During their deployment, Growlers from Ike’s air wing also employed AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM) for the first time in combat. This included a strike that destroyed a Mi-24/35 Hind gunship helicopter on the ground.
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VAQ-130 (an EA-18G Growler electronic attack squadron attached to Carrier Air Wing 3) recently returned to its homeport in Washington State after a lengthy combat deployment to the Middle East. A recent Navy press release confirmed the details of the first-ever EA-18G air-to-air victory.
It is tradition that aviators affix “victory marks” on aircraft indicating successful engagements against, for example, bombs dropped, missiles launched, drones destroyed, and boats destroyed. pic.twitter.com/lcP2NfzQ4v
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The Navy press release highlighted that VAQ-130 “became the first Growler squadron in Navy history to score an air-to-air kill.”
The Navy did not specify the exact Houthi threat the Growler eliminated, but a video shared by Eisenhower’s commanding officer appeared to show a drone kill marking on the side of a Growler stationed on Ike’s flight deck.
Images of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets assigned to Ike’s air wing, sporting similar drone and other kill markings, had emerged in May.
The EA-18G Growler, a variant of the Navy’s Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, is designed for electronic warfare. It boasts cutting-edge electronic warfare pods and radar-targeting air-to-surface missiles, such as the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM). These enhancements enable the Growler to detect, disrupt, and destroy enemy air defense systems.
As for the weapon the EA-18G used for its air-to-air kill, the only current option for Navy Growlers is the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).
In April, the Navy announced that it had increased the Growlers’ capacity to carry AMRAAMs as part of an urgent initiative in response to the ongoing crisis in and around the Red Sea.
The Eisenhower’s carrier air wing also consisted of E-2 Hawkeye early-warning aircraft and helicopters, enhancing its operational capabilities.
US Navy’s Intense Naval Action During Red Sea Tour
During a deployment that concluded on July 14, the US Navy stated, “The ‘Zappers’ executed continuous combat operations in the Southern Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden to maintain freedom of navigation in international waterways.”
VAQ-130’s Growlers carried out seven strikes into Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen and flew nearly 700 combat sorties to undermine the Houthis’ ability to threaten maritime traffic.
The Navy highlighted the squadron’s encounters with Iranian-sponsored anti-ship ballistic missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles, and one-way attack drones.
Vice Adm. George Wikoff, commander of the US 5th Fleet, said that the force effectively engaged the Houthis directly, utilizing airpower and proactive defensive measures. These steps reduced shipping hazards and demonstrated the country’s commitment to preserving maritime security.
The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKECSG) warships launched 155 Standard missiles and 135 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs) from their vertical launch systems for self-defense and pre-planned strikes.
Additionally, IKECSG aircraft expended nearly 60 AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) and released 420 air-to-surface weapons.
The carrier air wing aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which included four strike fighter squadrons, logged over 30,000 flight hours across thousands of sorties during this deployment.
This high operational tempo required commanders to be flexible in their aircraft deployment strategies. This challenging deployment also provided the US Navy and the broader US military with valuable lessons and notable achievements, according to the USN.
Lieutenant Commander Carl Ellsworth, commander of VAQ-130, remarked, “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.”
He described the recent Red Sea tour as “the most kinetic action at sea since World War II.” Ellsworth expressed immense pride in his team, stating, “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.”
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