Ace Combat 8 Database
EA-18G Growler 
An EW attacker based on the F/A-18F, developed as a successor to the EA-6B. This EA-18G, nicknamed "Growler," combines maneuverability equal to that of the F/A-18F with ample operational capabilities. It obstructs enemy radars, aircraft control facilities, and communications with other aircraft. This makes enemy attacks more difficult to pull off, thus increasing allies' chances of survival. As it is based off of the F/A-18F, it is highly skilled in maneuverability and the ability to use air-to-air missiles, making it more than apt at aerial combat defense. As future updates are planned, further enhanced EW versions can be anticipated.
Performance
MaxHealth- 117
SpeedMax- 2,750
- 0
GunLoadCount- 2,400
MainWeaponLoadCount- 140
FlareLoadCount- 4
ESM- 18 (9 paired)
2AAM- 30 (16 paired)
- ECM
- 14 (7 paired)
Flight model
The raw flight data from the game files (campaign version). Speeds are in km/h. The other numbers use the game's own units. The values keep the game's field names, because what most of them do is still unknown. Under Stability and Defense are the fields that match those in-game bars best. Mobility matches the rotation rates. How the game calculates the bars is unknown.
The game's curve points for this aircraft are out of order (a lower speed follows a higher one); they are drawn as stored.
Speed (km/h)
SpeedMax- 2,750
SpeedBreak- 3,050
- 240
SpeedStall- 170
SpeedMin- 150
GndSpeedTakeoff- 325
Power
AcceleR- 2.45
DeceleR- 3.55
PowerAfterBurnerR- 1.3
MaxSpeedAfterBurnerR- 1.2
SpeedUpperR- 0.5
SpeedDownerR- -0.45
SpeedRollDownerR- 5
AltStallStart / AltStall- 11,000 / 12,000
Stability
PitchUpDownR- 0.7
YawRateStdNrm- 0.55
StdArtificialRoll- 35
RotStallR- 3.5
Defense
MaxHealth- 117
- 0
- 3
StaggerTimeMax- 0
StaggerImpactDamageMax / Min- 20 / 5
Mobility
| Axis | Peak rate | At km/h | Best speed band, km/h (rate ≥ 90% of peak) | AddRotR | DecRotR | InputRotAdd | InputRotDec | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min | Max | Range | |||||||
| Pitch | 256.8 | 1,400 | 463 | 1,614 | 1,151 | 1.75 | 3.05 | 1.5 | 2 |
| Roll | 164.2 | 600 | 359 | 1,369 | 1,010 | 1.75 | 3.05 | 1.2 | 1.5 |
| Yaw | 138 | 1,000 | 510 | 1,800 | 1,290 | 2.25 | 3.05 | 3 | 1.4 |
Post-stall and drift
DriftPostStallManeuverability- None
DriftPostStallManeuverSpeedEnd- 0
DriftStartInputTime- 0.4
DriftSpeedEnd- 150
DriftStopDiffRadian- 3
DriftPitchRate- 1.1
DriftYawRate- 1.3
DriftYawRate_PSM- 5
DriftSpeedStartDec- 0
DriftSpeedDecR- 150
DriftSpeedDecMax- 5,000
Curve points SpeedGraph / SpeedRot / RotGravR / DiffNoseVelocityR 0..9
| Speed (km/h) | Pitch rate | Roll rate | Yaw rate | RotGravR pitch | RotGravR yaw | DiffNoseVelocityR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 170 | 124.8 | 118.1 | 48.3 | 35 | 5 | 5 |
| 240 | 208.8 | 139.7 | 103.5 | 30 | 4 | 5 |
| 600 | 244.8 | 164.2 | 131.1 | 20 | 2 | 5 |
| 1,000 | 244.8 | 158.4 | 138 | 20 | 2 | 5 |
| 1,400 | 256.8 | 146.9 | 138 | 20 | 2 | 5 |
| 1,700 | 220.8 | 146.9 | 131.1 | 20 | 2 | 5 |
| 2,100 | 196.8 | 128.9 | 103.5 | 20 | 2 | 4 |
| 2,750 | 148.8 | 114.5 | 69 | 20 | 2 | 4 |
| 3,050 | 100.8 | 89.3 | 55.2 | 15 | 1 | 4 |
Special weapons
Part slots: 4 body · 6 arms · 3 misc
How to unlock
- Unlock
- Purchase
- Cost
- 350,000 MRP
- 2nd-4th purchase
- 43,750 MRP each
- Special weapons 2 / 3
- 35,000 MRP / 35,000 MRP
- Requires
- Anti-Stealth Microwave Radar
Aces flying the EA-18G
Alienus Saud Abqar
Skins
17 campaign skins. See all EA-18G skins →
Performance
In online mode, aircraft level up with COMBAT XP and have different stats at each level. The campaign has no aircraft levels.
MaxHealth- 104
SpeedMax- 2,750
- 0
GunLoadCount- 800
MainWeaponLoadCount- 114
FlareLoadCount- 2
- ESM
- 12 (6 paired)
- 2AAM
- 30 (20 paired)
- ECM
- 12 (6 paired)
Flight model at level
The game's curve points for this aircraft are out of order (a lower speed follows a higher one); they are drawn as stored.
Speed (km/h)
SpeedMax- 2,750
SpeedBreak- 3,050
- 240
SpeedStall- 170
SpeedMin- 150
GndSpeedTakeoff- 325
Power
AcceleR- 2.45
DeceleR- 3.55
PowerAfterBurnerR- 1.3
MaxSpeedAfterBurnerR- 1.2
SpeedUpperR- 0.5
SpeedDownerR- -0.45
SpeedRollDownerR- 3
AltStallStart / AltStall- 11,000 / 12,000
Stability
PitchUpDownR- 0.7
YawRateStdNrm- 0.7
StdArtificialRoll- 40
RotStallR- 3.5
Defense
MaxHealth- 104
- 0
- 3
StaggerTimeMax- 0
StaggerImpactDamageMax / Min- 20 / 5
Mobility
| Axis | Peak rate | At km/h | Best speed band, km/h (rate ≥ 90% of peak) | AddRotR | DecRotR | InputRotAdd | InputRotDec | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min | Max | Range | |||||||
| Pitch | 256.8 | 1,400 | 463 | 1,614 | 1,151 | 2.4 | 3.05 | 2 | 2 |
| Roll | 109.4 | 600 | 358 | 1,371 | 1,013 | 2.4 | 3.05 | 2 | 1.5 |
| Yaw | 138 | 1,000 | 510 | 1,800 | 1,290 | 2.9 | 3.05 | 2 | 1.4 |
Post-stall and drift
DriftPostStallManeuverability- None
DriftPostStallManeuverSpeedEnd- 0
DriftStartInputTime- 0.4
DriftSpeedEnd- 150
DriftStopDiffRadian- 3
DriftPitchRate- 1.1
DriftYawRate- 1.3
DriftYawRate_PSM- 5
DriftSpeedStartDec- 0
DriftSpeedDecR- 150
DriftSpeedDecMax- 5,000
Curve points SpeedGraph / SpeedRot / RotGravR / DiffNoseVelocityR 0..9
| Speed (km/h) | Pitch rate | Roll rate | Yaw rate | RotGravR pitch | RotGravR yaw | DiffNoseVelocityR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 170 | 124.8 | 78.7 | 48.3 | 35 | 5 | 5 |
| 240 | 208.8 | 93.1 | 103.5 | 30 | 4 | 5 |
| 600 | 244.8 | 109.4 | 131.1 | 20 | 2 | 5 |
| 1,000 | 244.8 | 105.6 | 138 | 20 | 2 | 5 |
| 1,400 | 256.8 | 97.9 | 138 | 20 | 2 | 5 |
| 1,700 | 220.8 | 97.9 | 131.1 | 20 | 2 | 5 |
| 2,100 | 196.8 | 85.9 | 103.5 | 20 | 2 | 4 |
| 2,750 | 148.8 | 76.3 | 69 | 20 | 2 | 4 |
| 3,050 | 100.8 | 59.5 | 55.2 | 15 | 1 | 4 |
Special weapons
- ESM Electronic Support MeasuresFrom the start
- 2AAM 2 Target Air-to-Air MissileLimit break 1
- ECM Electronic CountermeasureLimit break 3
The others unlock with limit breaks, in the order listed. One special weapon per sortie until limit break 2, then two types at once (with less ammo for each). Part slots also come from limit breaks (below).
How to get it
- Online store
- 30,000 Zoll
FIRST SERGEANT (rank 9) - COST
- 1,700
Limit breaks
Each limit break raises the level cap and adds part slots or special weapons. Costs are for that step; the totals are everything paid from the start. Upgrade Blueprints are specific to the EA-18G; General Purpose Upgrade Blueprints work on any aircraft.
| Limit break | Level cap | Part slots | Special weapons |  Zoll |  Blueprints |  General Purpose | Total so far |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 (start) | 5 | 1 / 1 / 1 | ESM | — | — | — | — |
| 1 | 10 | 1 / 2 / 1 | +2AAM | 15,000 | 15 | 10 | 15,000 15 10 |
| 2 | 15 | 2 / 2 / 1 | 2 types at once | 45,000 | 45 | 20 | 60,000 60 30 |
| 3 | 20 | 3 / 3 / 1 | +ECM | 90,000 | 90 | 30 | 150,000 150 60 |
COMBAT XP per level (to level 20: 15,000)
Aircraft earn COMBAT XP by flying online missions (and from COMBAT XP Memory items). Totals from level 1.
| Level | Total COMBAT XP | From the level before |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | — |
| 2 | 42 | 42 |
| 3 | 166 | 124 |
| 4 | 374 | 208 |
| 5 | 665 | 291 |
| 6 | 1,039 | 374 |
| 7 | 1,496 | 457 |
| 8 | 2,036 | 540 |
| 9 | 2,659 | 623 |
| 10 | 3,366 | 707 |
| 11 | 4,155 | 789 |
| 12 | 5,028 | 873 |
| 13 | 5,983 | 955 |
| 14 | 7,022 | 1,039 |
| 15 | 8,144 | 1,122 |
| 16 | 9,349 | 1,205 |
| 17 | 10,637 | 1,288 |
| 18 | 12,008 | 1,371 |
| 19 | 13,463 | 1,455 |
| 20 | 15,000 | 1,537 |
Abilities
ESM (Range Expansion)Slightly increases ESM effective range.
Anti-Air Attack Modification (Electronic)Slightly increases the amount of damage inflicted on airborne targets.
MSL UpgradeSlightly improves overall missile performance.
Respawn Time Decrease (Team)Slightly reduces respawn time for players on the same team.
- ECM (Range Expansion)
Slightly increases ECM effective range.
EA-18G (ESM Upgrade)Slightly improves ESM duration and effectiveness.
Chaff and Flare Quantity IncreaseSlightly increases onboard chaff and flare ammunition.
2AAM (Dogfight Spec.)Slightly extends 2AAM lock-on range. Slightly shortens its reload time. Shortens 2AAM lock-on distance.
Ability slots: 1 at level 5, 2 at level 15, 3 at level 20. Abilities unlocked: 1 at level 5, 2 at level 8, 3 at level 11, 4 at level 14, 5 at level 17, 6 at level 20 of 8. The game files don't say which ones unlock first. They're listed in the game's table order. All abilities →
Challenges
Online challenges for the EA-18G and their rewards. All challenges →
| Goal | Tiers and rewards |
|---|---|
| Play a total of N mission(s) using EA-18G Growler. |
|
| Unlock EA-18G Growler's level cap a total of N time(s). |
|
Skins
9 online skins. See all EA-18G skins →