"We still have an advantage, but the gap is now minimal."
The bridged gap was probably caused by two key factors. The first was the end of the Cold War.
The United States, according to the former president of the Defense Science Board, Paul Kaminski, "relaxed" after the fall of the Soviet Union, ceasing to invest in electronic warfare.
Another key factor was the September 11 attack. That new conflict centered on the hunt for terrorists, undermined the interest in the high-tech electronic threat.
Last year, the Defense Science Board recommended to Congress a further $ 2 billion grant to be allocated to the Pentagon's budget to strengthen electronic warfare capabilities. This follows a series of embarrassing revelations about the weaknesses in military weapons systems.
Despite the investment from 400 billions of dollars for the F-35, the fighter was highly vulnerable without the electronic support provided by the Growlers.
According to the latest Pentagon report, if the F-35 went to fight alone, without the support of the F-18, it probably wouldn't survive the first days of the war (where only fifth-generation fighters would act).
The Navy has identified other problems on the new Littoral Combat Ship, equipped with an electronic warfare system judged to be "highly imperfect".
To address these criticisms, the Department of Defense plans to build an updated LCS model with better EW systems, a new 3D radar and multi-function sonar.
"We know the remedy, but recovering the years of neglect will be very expensive. In addition to money we need to focus on the problem, place it on top of our thoughts ".
The Navy has recently completed a study on its ability to electronic warfare. The response is merciless: they need Growler under penalty of defeat in any future confrontation.
Franco Iacch
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(photo: at the top an EA-18G Growler in flight and at the bottom taking off from the Aviano base)
