Description

About the aircraft

      The EA-18G Growler is an electronic warfare aircraft developed and operated by the U.S. Navy as a successor to the Grumman EA-6B Prowler.

      Developed based on the U.S. Navy's F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter, it began operation in 2009. It has a crew of two: the pilot and a rear-seat WSO (Weapons Systems Officer). Electronic warfare equipment includes the AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System (TJS) pod, the AN/ALQ-218(V)2 Radio Frequency Receiver System, and the AN/ALQ-227 Communications Countermeasures Set.

      It is powered by two General Electric F414-GE-400 turbofan engines. It has a top speed of nearly Mach 1.8.

      Armed with these features, the Growler can counter enemy SEAD (Self-Adaptive Air Defense) aircraft. The U.S. Navy's electronic warfare unit, VAQ-131 Lancers, based at Misawa Air Base in Japan, also operates the EA-18G Growler. The tail features a cavalry mask and spear design.

About the Product

      This 1/48 scale kit recreates the U.S. Navy's current electronic warfare aircraft, the EA-18G Growler. This plastic assembly kit measures 38.1 cm in length after completion.
Its impressive size and distinctive form are accurately recreated.

      The parts are manufactured by the long-established Italian manufacturer Italeri, and a Japanese instruction manual by Platz is included. This kit is suitable for Japanese modelers as well.

      Masking stickers are also included as standard, making it easy to paint the canopy frame, especially with the large tandem cockpit canopy.

      The markings are selected from those of the VAQ-131 Lancers based at Misawa Air Base in Japan. This model reproduces the low-visibility markings of the 2020 model, painted in shades of gray.

Main Features

• 1/48 scale reproduction of the US Navy electronic warfare aircraft, the EA-18G Growler
  
• Includes Italeri parts, a Platz Japanese instruction manual, and original packaging
  
• The markings are selected from the low-visibility markings of the VAQ-131 Lancers deployed at Misawa Air Base in 2020
  
• Includes a masking sheet for convenient painting of the canopy frame