LETTER TO THE EDITOR | New Navy Growlers’ cost sorely underestimated

Editor, The South Whidbey Record article, “Navy’s purchase of new Growlers...” published on Dec, 17 states, “...the number of total Growlers purchased by Congress would increase from 135 to 150, costing an additional $1.46 million.” That dollar amount appears to be very off the mark.

December 26, 2014 4:32 pm

Editor,

The South Whidbey Record article, “Navy’s purchase of new Growlers…” published on Dec, 17 states, “…the number of total Growlers purchased by Congress would increase from 135 to 150, costing an additional $1.46 million.” That dollar amount appears to be very off the mark.

According to Barr Group Aerospace (dba AeroWeb) “In FY 2014, the unit cost of an EA-18G is $76.98 million (flyaway cost). The airframe costs $46.14 million, the two F414-GE-400 engines cost $8.64 million ($4.32 million each), the avionics package costs $17.44 million, with other costs making up the remaining $4.76 million.”

http://www.bga-aeroweb.com/Defense/EA-18G-Growler.html

At that rate, an increase in Growlers from 135 to 150 will have a total cost of $1,154,700,000.

That’s billion. With a B.

HAL SELIGSON

Langley