The U.S. House of Representatives passed a national defense bill Thursday that approves funding five more EA-18G Growlers for the Navy, according to a Thursday news release from Rep. Rick Larsen.
The $450 million earmark falls short of the Navy’s request earlier this year for 22 additional Growlers in the 2015 federal budget. However, the additional aircraft should allow the Navy to increase the size of its squadrons from five to seven, according to the United States Naval Institute.
The bill must still pass through the U.S. Senate and then go to the president for signature.
The electronic attack aircraft are based solely at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Oak Harbor, although the aircraft is a close derivation of the Navy’s F/A-18F Super Hornet, according to Boeing.
A squadron of five Growlers have been forward stationed at Atsugi Naval Air Facility in Japan since 2012 and another was recently deployed to Iran.
The $577 billion defense bill was hashed out by both the House and Senate Armed Services committees.
Passing this legislation before the end of the year is “vital,” according to the House Armed Services Committee Democrats summary, and “represents broad, bipartisan consensus about America’s national security goals, resources and policies.”
The Navy is in the process of conducting an Environmental Impact Study on the Growlers, which have drawn criticism from Whidbey Island residents over its noise levels.
The EIS is examining four alternatives for squadron composition based on an increase of anywhere from 13 to 36 additional Growlers. It was unclear Friday how the legislation, if passed, will alter the EIS.
Ted Brown, a public affairs officer for U.S. Fleet Forces Command, said he couldn’t speculate how the EIS might change until the legislation becomes law.
“There’s still plenty of time to develop alternatives,” Brown said.
There are 82 Growlers actively flying at NAS Whidbey and 12 used as backup if an active plane is damaged, according to Larsen’s press release, but the Navy could station as many as 118 there in the future.
“I want to be clear this does not mean NASWI will automatically house five more Growlers,” Larsen said. “The number of Growlers at NASWI will be determined by the ongoing Environmental Impact Study, which has provided multiple opportunities for public input.”
The legislation also funds the acquisition of eight P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft. The Navy decided to base six P-8A squadrons at NAS Whidbey Island earlier this year. Construction improvements on the Whidbey base are also funded.
The Growler EIS remains open for public comment through Jan. 9 at www.whidbeyeis.com.
