page_title: No. 6 Squadron RAAF
section_title: Electronic attack unit
hierarchical_section_title: No. 6 Squadron RAAF / History / Electronic attack unit
caption_attribution_description: English: Four EA-18G Growlers arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam before moving on to Australia, Feb. 16, 2017. The Growler is an electronic attack aircraft capable of proving force level electronic warfare support by disrupting, deceiving or denying a broad range of electronic systems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Heather Redman)
context_page_description: No. 6 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force training and bomber squadron. It was formed in 1917 and served as a training unit based in England during World War I. The squadron was disbanded in 1919 but re-formed at the start of 1939. It subsequently saw combat as a light bomber and maritime patrol squadron during World War II, and took part in the New Guinea Campaign and New Britain Campaign before being disbanded after the war.
  The squadron was re-raised in 1948 as the RAAF's bomber operational conversion unit. It has primarily served in this capacity since that time, though it has also maintained a secondary strike capability and was also tasked with reconnaissance duties between 1979 and 1993. No. 6 Squadron is currently based at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, and has been most recently equipped with Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft between January 2011 and December 2016. The squadron was re-equipped with Boeing EA-18G Growlers in 2017.
context_section_description: In May 2013, the Federal government announced plans to purchase twelve Boeing EA-18G Growlers to supplement the Super Hornet fleet. No. 6 Squadron was expected to begin taking delivery of the Growlers in 2017; on 1 December 2016 its Super Hornets were transferred to No. 1 Squadron. As of 2014, the squadron was expected to achieve initial operating capability with the Growlers in June 2018 and full operating capacity in 2022. On 7 July 2017 the delivery of last of the EA-18G Growlers was completed.
  In January 2018 the EA-18G aircraft had their first international deployment, to the Red Flag military exercise in the United States. On 28 January EAG-18G A46-311 burst into flames on take-off, causing substantial damage. After a 9-day grounding the remaining EA-18G aircraft commenced flying again on 8 February. The damaged aircraft was later judged to be beyond economic repair, and written off. The Growler force achieved initial operating capability on 30 April 2019.
caption: A No. 6 Squadron EA-18G Growler in 2017
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