
Der Signalstörjet „Growler“, der zur Gefangennahme von Nicolas Maduro beigetragen hat, ist das bevorzugte Kampfflugzeug des Pentagons für die elektronische Kriegsführung.
https://www.wsj.com/world/the-growler-signal-jamming-jet-that-helped-capture-nicolas-maduro-1eba383f?mod=mhp
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[remove paywall](https://archive.is/20260107012741/https://www.wsj.com/world/the-growler-signal-jamming-jet-that-helped-capture-nicolas-maduro-1eba383f)
The U.S. deployment over Venezuela included EA-18G Growler jets, which specialize in electronic warfare (EW) by disrupting enemy radar, communications, and signals rather than attacking directly.
Drawing on lessons from Ukraine, EW has re-emerged as a critical combat tool. The Growler helped suppress Venezuela’s largely older Russian and Chinese made air defense systems, enabling U.S. aircraft and special forces to operate with little resistance. However, analysts note these tactics would face stiffer challenges against better equipped adversaries like China or Russia.
With drones, missiles, and communications increasingly vulnerable to jamming and spoofing, EW has become a major military investment area, though delays in U.S. upgrades raise some concerns.
Lasers, fiber optic drone links, and AI enabled EW show the field is becoming faster and more autonomous.
Kidnapping goes hi tech!
In other news, water is wet.
The EA-18G has been the primary electronic warfare platform since 2009.
The Navy electronic warfare people put out an awesome [Growler Ball](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy1jkF5RJsE) video every year. I like the one where the video goes to a Windows bluescreen the second they hit the „master radiate“ button.
Also another weapon that helped their operation in Caracas was a cyberattack making the area go dark. It helps when you can shut off the lights for a large area at night!
Here’s another article for yall if you want to take a read!
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/us/politics/trump-venezuela-helicopter.html