The US has deployed six EA-18G Growler bombers to Puerto Rico, near Venezuela.

Six U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft have landed in Puerto Rico, less than 1,000km from Venezuela. This move significantly bolsters Washington's electronic warfare capabilities in the Caribbean, going beyond mere show of force aimed at pressuring the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

EA-18G Growler deployed near Venezuela

The addition of a squadron of Growlers specializing in air defense suppression indicates that the U.S. pressure campaign is shifting from a show of force to establishing actual combat capabilities. With a deployment location in Puerto Rico, these aircraft are capable of accessing airspace around Venezuela in a short time should any military scenario arise.

In this context, the question arises not only about its symbolic significance, but also how the U.S. could utilize Growler's electronic warfare capabilities in any airstrike campaign targeting Venezuelan armed forces.

EA-18G Growler: Electronic warfare variant of the F/A-18

The EA-18G Growler was developed on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet airframe, but redesigned as a specialized two-seat electronic warfare variant. Its primary mission is to suppress and jam enemy radar systems, enabling safer operations for other air forces.

Each Growler can carry up to five ALQ-99 tactical jamming clusters mounted under the wings or fuselage. These jamming clusters are tightly integrated with the AN/ALQ-218 onboard electronic warfare system, allowing the aircraft to detect, locate, and neutralize enemy radar stations with high efficiency.

Weapons designed to destroy radar and for self-defense.

Despite being optimized for jamming missions, the EA-18G Growler still possesses significant offensive and defensive capabilities. The aircraft is equipped with AGM-88 High-Speed ​​Anti-Radiation Missiles, a weapon specifically designed to destroy radar signatures after they have been identified. In addition, the Growler can carry AIM-120 medium-range air-to-air missiles to counter airborne threats from enemy fighter jets.

In modern warfare, the Growler is considered a "power multiplier" for air squadrons, as it both weakens enemy air defense networks and assists in target designation for attack weapons operating beyond air defense range.

NGJ-MB upgrade: increased jamming range, facing technical risks.

The U.S. Navy is in the process of upgrading the next-generation mid-band jamming system (NGJ-MB) for its EA-18G Growler aircraft. According to a report by the Pentagon's Office of Test and Evaluation (DOT&E), the NGJ-MB utilizes active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar technology with the capability to transmit across multiple frequency bands.

The DOT&E report also stated that the NGJ-MB upgrade program is facing serious technical reliability challenges, hindering its ability to fully support real-world combat missions. If these flaws are resolved, the NGJ-MB is expected to allow Growler to simultaneously counter multiple threats from greater distances, performing a variety of missions from long-range jamming and penetration escort to close-range jamming.

The "pioneering" role in the Venezuela attack scenario.

In any military scenario targeting the Venezuelan armed forces, EA-18G Growlers would most likely be among the first aircraft to enter the fray, acting as "opening lines." Their mission is to destroy or neutralize ground-based air defense positions, creating a safe corridor for other attack aircraft, and to designate targets for air-to-air weapons aimed at strategic locations.

The deployment of six Growlers to Puerto Rico has significantly increased the density of U.S. electronic warfare aircraft in the Caribbean. Typically, a carrier strike group like the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) carries only about 5 to 7 EA-18Gs. With this new deployment, the U.S. Navy may be concentrating around 13 electronic warfare aircraft in the Caribbean, laying the groundwork for a large-scale air strike if needed.

The scenario involving the use of air power and the question that follows.

The big question is how President Donald Trump will act as the troop buildup nears completion. Although he has repeatedly stated he is not keen on military intervention abroad, past events suggest he is prepared to use forceful military action.

The precedents cited include the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in 2020, as well as the coordinated operation with Israel targeting Tehran's nuclear infrastructure involving B-2 Spirit stealth bombers. The tendency to use air power quickly and decisively, without deploying ground troops, was evident in the operation known as Operation Midnight Hammer.

Against this backdrop, the US deployment of EA-18G Growlers to Puerto Rico clearly indicates that the US Navy is preparing for a similar scenario against the Maduro regime in terms of capabilities. The remaining question is whether this is merely a psychological tactic to exert maximum pressure, or the final preparation for a real air campaign against Venezuela.