Northrop Grumman officials on Tuesday said the company has begun assembling the first production elements—center and aft fuselage—for the Navy’s EA-18G Growler. The Growler is slated to replace the EA-6B Prowler, but some only see it as an interim solution and believe the F-35 would make a better dedicated next generation electronic attack aircraft. Northrop says it expects to deliver the first production center and aft fuselage shipset to prime contractor Boeing by April 2007. Northrop already has delivered shipsets for two flight test aircraft for tests later this summer.
With less than three weeks left before Congress’ latest continuing resolution funding the government runs out, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III sent a letter to leading lawmakers, urging them to pass a spending bill before the start of 2023. Austin sent copies of the letter Nov. 28 to the top…