Printed from https://fiscalreceipts.com/program/0604269N/ — built September 26, 2026. Every figure is citation-backed; see the page online for per-number provenance.
EA-18
Watch this program
Budget figures
FY2026 award data is a partial year — USAspending reports awards on a rolling basis, and this corpus runs through 2026-09-04. why partial FY2026 data? →
Budget trajectory
| Fiscal year | Amount |
|---|---|
| FY24 | $159.8M |
| FY25 | $167.4M |
| FY26 | $184.9M |
All series figures: R-1 TOA · PB2026
Decade view
P-1/R-1 workbook TOA basis, shown compact in $B/$M (the workbook records USD thousands); each figure cites its own President's Budget edition
The vertical scale does not start at zero: the baseline sits just below this program’s smallest year, so a low point on this line is not a small amount. Read the shape for direction and the grid below for the figures.
● actuals (line) · ○ enacted · ◇ request — gaps are editions the program is absent from, never interpolated.
| Series | FY15 | FY16 | FY17 | FY18 | FY19 | FY20 | FY21 | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 | FY26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actuals | $18.7M | $45.4M | $100.8M | $137.0M | $236.0M | $122.0M | $104.0M | $58.7M | $114.4M | $159.8M | ||
| Enacted | $46.9M | $116.8M | $173.5M | $242.7M | $123.6M | $106.1M | $59.7M | $116.6M | $172.5M | $167.4M | ||
| Request | $116.8M | $173.5M | $147.4M | $143.6M | $106.1M | $68.4M | $116.6M | $172.5M | $223.3M | $184.9M |
blank = series not published for this year; – = absent from that edition.
Asked vs spent: the PB2019 book requested $147.4M for FY2019; the PB2021 book reported $236.0M as actual total obligation authority — $88.5M above the request. 235.96 − 147.42 = 88.54 USD millions — the compact figures above are rounded for reading.
Program lineage
No predecessor/successor lineage was recorded for this program element — no FY-to-FY transfer into or out of this line was stated in the ingested J-books, and none was inferred from the program structure.
Description
Mission — EA-18 Squadrons
The EA-18G Growler is the primary Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) platform supporting the Joint Force and the sole tactical AEA aircraft in the DoD inventory. The Growler is an asymmetric force multiplier that increases the survivability and lethality of the Joint Force within a non-permissive environment, while enabling all-domain superiority for the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS). The centrality of EMS dominance to the CNO's Maritime Strategy further necessitates EA-18G modernization as a strategic pursuit to secure EMS superiority for the Navy's Carrier Strike and Joint Expeditionary operations. Due to the rapid advancements of the adversary's capabilities, the EA-18G will be called upon in future engagements to operate at increased ranges from the threat which far exceed the current capability to effectively deliver kinetic and non-kinetic effects. The Growler Block II is a foundational spiral upgrade that will implement the incremental and innovative capability improvements required for Naval Aviation to regain and sustain an advantage in the EMS until the EA-18G is replaced. Growler Block II consists of onboard sensors of the EA-18G, namely the ALQ-218, require improved sensitivity and processing to detect, identify, and locate advanced complex threats at longer ranges. The ALQ-218 is a combination of multiple Weapons Replaceable Assemblies (WRAs), enabled by software, providing a mechanism for incremental capability improvement. The current Electronic Attack Unit (EAU) WRA will be replaced by the Next Generation Electronic Attack Unit (NGEAU), beginning the transition to Growler Block II Phase I. This upgrade, coupled with the Reactive Electronic Attack Measures (REAM) capability, greatly enhances the EA-18G's autonomous processing and response to unknown signals in an extremely dense EMS environment. Growler Block II Phase II, Beowulf, will include an advanced Multi-Function Array (MFA) in the Inboard Leading Edge Flaps (ILEF), augmenting the ALQ-218 functionality and capability. The MFA also serves as technology development and risk reduction for the incorporation of MFAs on multiple future platforms. Capabilities of the EA-18G weapon system and ancillary equipment can be upgraded to incorporate new or enhanced weapons as well as advances in technology to respond effectively to emerging and future threats. EA-18G "Flight Plan" spiral capability development is critical to the baseline of the EA-18G next generation mission system capability and to maintaining tactical relevance in support of the Air Wing of the Future. Development continues for design and integration of avionics systems, integration of Jamming Techniques Optimization (JATO) improvements, evolutionary software upgrades via Software Configuration Set (SCS) block builds and Agile software development, as well as related testing. Through FY2030, EA-18G Growler efforts will focus on developing quality components, continuing advanced development engineering; and improving reliability and maintainability. These collective efforts will enhance availability of critical assets to the fleet and maximize lifetime total cost of ownership benefits.
Mission — EA-18G Development
The EA-18G development program upgrades the Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) capability to detect, identify, locate and suppress hostile emitters; provides enhanced connectivity to National, Theater and Strike assets; and provides passive organic precision emitter targeting for employment of precision strike weapons and onboard suppression weapons (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile family) to fulfill operational requirements. The EA-18G is the only tactical AEA platform for the joint force and is continually called upon to provide effects for USN, USMC, and USAF assets. There is no planned replacement for the EA-18G and improvements will fill capability gaps for the Air Wing of the Future North Star effort.
Justification
Accomplishments & Planned Programs (4)
EA-18G AEA System Enhancements (ASE) and Integrated Capability Package (ICP-3)
The EA-18G can operate autonomously or as a major node in a network-centric operation and is being designed to perform a range of Electronic Warfare/Electronic Attack functions either simultaneously or independently. Funding will be utilized for design and integration of avionics systems into the EA-18G.
EA-18G System Configuration Set (SCS) Development & Integration
Enhancements to improve the EA-18G Airborne Electronic Attack capabilities are predominantly realized through evolutionary software upgrades. Funding will be utilized to develop improved software capabilities for the EA-18G through SCS block and Agile software updates.
EA-18G Flight Plan Engineering
EA-18G "Flight Plan" spiral capability development is critical to the evolution of the Growler next generation mission system capability. Funding will support the development, test and integration efforts required to maintain tactical relevance in support of Navy Aviation Plan 2030. A major capability within the Growler Flight Plan Engineering portfolio is the incorporation of the Global Lightning (GL) Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) capability. The GL capability will field in phases with a rapid acceleration Growler interim capability that will target key high priority capabilities with a Speed to the Fleet mindset, followed by a final F/A-18 E/F and EA-18G common solution. This capability provides joint, multi-domain connectivity for the distributed battlespace BLOS tactical communication and puts a common tactical picture into the hands of the aircrew. The capability also provides a resilient, real-time gateway between the 4th and 5th generation tactical aircraft with datalinks at the tactical edge with assured Command and Control (C2) and targeting from national and other off board sensors. The data is provided through multiple data paths and supports Long Range Fires in critical environments. BLOS also provides tactical communications for joint, multi-domain connectivity in support of distributed battlespace.
EA-18G Growler Block II
The Growler Block II (GB2) upgrade will implement innovative capability improvements required for Naval Aviation to regain and sustain an advantage in the EMS until the EA-18G replacement. GB2 is the first major upgrade to the Growler weapons system since IOC in 2009. GB2 will utilize a phased approach for spiral development of AEA capabilities. Phase 1 will include an upgraded Next Generation Electronic Attack Unit (NGEAU) and Reactive Electronic Attack Measures (REAM). The NGEAU will support an Open Mission Systems (OMS) processor architecture, include Multi Level Security (MLS), and include a Multi-Tier Resource Management (MTRM) framework. Additionally, the NGEAU addresses Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) concerns with the current EAU. REAM uses Cognitive Electronic Warfare machine learning algorithms to provide the warfighter with capabilities to counter advanced Integrated Air Defense System (IADS) by detecting and identifying unknown Complex Emitters. GB2 Phase 2, Beowulf, will include an advanced Multi-Function Array (MFA) in the Inboard Leading Edge Flaps (ILEF) augmenting the ALQ-218 functionality and capability. The GB2 MFA serves as technology development and risk reduction for the incorporation of MFAs on multiple future platforms. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) Future Naval Capability (FNC) Electromagnetic Maneuver Warfare Resource Allocation Management (EMW RAM) is a software algorithm development planned for GB2 implementation that will provide an enhanced communication, sensor, and jamming resource management capability. GB2 modernization and added capability aligns to the overall Growler roadmap.
Budget line items(workbook-cited)
P-1/R-1 workbook Total Obligation Authority basis (USD thousands) · PB2026.
Exhibit R-1
| Account | Org | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy | N | FY24 Actuals | $159.8M |
| Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy | N | FY25 Enacted | $167.4M |
| Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy | N | FY25 Total | $167.4M |
| Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy | N | FY26 Disc. Request | $184.9M |
| Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Navy | N | FY26 Total | $184.9M |
Budget Details(R-2/P-40 facts)
J-book detail basis (R-2/P-40, USD millions) · PB2026 — a different accounting basis from the P-1/R-1 workbook TOA above; where the two disagree, the reconciliation strip under Budget figures shows both.
Wider than this screen — swipe the table sideways for the remaining fiscal-year columns.
| Project | All Prior Years | FY24 Actuals | FY25 Total | FY26 Base | FY26 Request |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Element | $2.66B | $159.8M | $167.4M | $184.9M | $184.9M |
| 3063: EA-18G Development | $2.66B | $159.8M | $167.4M | $184.9M | $184.9M |
Follow the dollar
Appropriation → program element → top high-confidence awards → recipient families → congressional districts.
Follow-the-dollar covers 312 of 1,938 programs — only high-confidence budget→award links are shown. why coverage is partial? →
The diagram illustrates the cited table below — amounts shown in the diagram are transaction sums per award (no citation chips); the per-district obligations in the table cite USAspending queries.
| District | Program obligations |
|---|---|
| MO-01 | $123.1M |
Related awards
Award linkage is shown for 32 of 200 profiled companies — high- and medium-confidence USAspending matches, each row labeled; medium is the weaker evidence. why partial award coverage? →
Rows marked medium rest on evidence weaker than a program-level match, and of more than one kind. An account-based row, where the award drew from the same appropriation account as this program, is an association, not evidence that this program paid for the contract. Where the evidence is instead an FPDS acquisition-program tag or a subaward description, the program is established but which of its budget lines paid is not. An announcement link a recorded review did not leave standing is medium too. Only high rows rest on the contract naming this program with a recorded review upholding it and no recorded rejection or refutation applying.
| Recipient | PIID | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION | N6893614D0018 | high |
| THE BOEING COMPANY | N0001921G0006 | high |
| THE BOEING COMPANY | N0001924F0259 | high |
| ITT CORPORATION | N0001910C0071 | medium |
| L3 TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | N0001919C0014 | medium |
| L3 TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | N0001921C0021 | medium |
| NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION | N0001919C0015 | medium |
| RAYTHEON COMPANY | N0001916C0002 | medium |
| THE BOEING COMPANY | N0001916C0032 | medium |
| THE BOEING COMPANY | N0001917C0024 | medium |
| THE BOEING COMPANY | N0001918C1022 | medium |
| THE BOEING COMPANY | N0001918F0246 | medium |
| THE BOEING COMPANY | N0001918F1718 | medium |
Contractor concentration
No concentration index is published for this line. This line's high-confidence links do not clear the floor for a published concentration index — at least 3 awards across 2 contractor families holding positive obligations, with positive net linked dollars. An index below that floor is a fact about the sample, not about the market. Whatever further links this line carries are medium-confidence, and what each medium evidence path does and does not establish is set out in the methodology. Both bases are in the downloadable warehouse.
Lobbying mentions
No Senate LDA lobbying filing in the tracked data mentions this program element by code or alias.
Oversight
Department-level designation (not specific to this program)
GAO lists 5 high-risk areas for DOD as a whole. That designation covers the department, not EA-18. No program-specific GAO finding for this line is in the ingested data. See the DOD oversight record.
Program dossier
No research dossier for this program — dossiers cover 50 of 1,938 programs, the largest fully J-book-detailed lines by FY2026 requested dollars. why no dossier here? →
Primary sources
Open any budget figure for its exact receipt. Verified line items lead with the highlighted government PDF; original spreadsheets download with their budget edition and exhibit in the filename.
Budget totals · TOA sources
FY2026 Department of Defense Budget: RDT&E Programs (R-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit R-1 · J364
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2026_DoD_R-1_Research-Development-Test-Evaluation.xlsx.
FY2017 Department of Defense Budget: RDT&E Programs (R-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit R-1 · J314
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2017_DoD_R-1_Research-Development-Test-Evaluation.xlsx.
FY2018 Department of Defense Budget: RDT&E Programs (R-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit R-1 · J344
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2018_DoD_R-1_Research-Development-Test-Evaluation.xlsx.
FY2019 Department of Defense Budget: RDT&E Programs (R-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit R-1 · J355
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2019_DoD_R-1_Research-Development-Test-Evaluation.xlsx.
FY2020 Department of Defense Budget: RDT&E Programs (R-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit R-1 · J367
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2020_DoD_R-1_Research-Development-Test-Evaluation.xlsx.
FY2021 Department of Defense Budget: RDT&E Programs (R-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit R-1 · J379
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2021_DoD_R-1_Research-Development-Test-Evaluation.xlsx.
FY2022 Department of Defense Budget: RDT&E Programs (R-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit R-1 · J353
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2022_DoD_R-1_Research-Development-Test-Evaluation.xlsx.
FY2023 Department of Defense Budget: RDT&E Programs (R-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit R-1 · J344
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2023_DoD_R-1_Research-Development-Test-Evaluation.xlsx.
FY2024 Department of Defense Budget: RDT&E Programs (R-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit R-1 · J343
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2024_DoD_R-1_Research-Development-Test-Evaluation.xlsx.
FY2025 Department of Defense Budget: RDT&E Programs (R-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit R-1 · J346
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2025_DoD_R-1_Research-Development-Test-Evaluation.xlsx.
Detailed budget justification
The related TOA spreadsheets above use a different accounting basis from R-2/P-40 detail. Their amounts are not assumed to match these detailed sources.
RDTEN BA1-3 Book · www.secnav.navy.mil