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I was looking at the Northrop Grumman website and came across the EA-18G Growler, which looks very similar to the F/A-18. What are the visual differences between the two?

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    $\begingroup$ These are two very different airplanes with different missions, your question is unclear. $\endgroup$
    – GdD
    Commented Mar 4, 2016 at 18:49
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    $\begingroup$ Super Hornet is a "larger" version of the Hornet. The growler has 90% of the same components as the superhornet. $\endgroup$
    – GHB
    Commented Mar 4, 2016 at 19:14
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    $\begingroup$ One big difference between the Rhino and the Growler is the wingtips. Looking at the Growler's reminds me of training wheels on a Ducati... $\endgroup$
    – Scooter
    Commented Mar 5, 2016 at 22:48
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    $\begingroup$ On this image there are few external differences. Mainly the canopy, but from @RonBeyer links, I see they can be both two seats. $\endgroup$
    – mins
    Commented Mar 6, 2016 at 9:28
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    $\begingroup$ @GdD: "These are two very different airplanes with different missions, your question is unclear." No, the B-52 and the F-16 are very different airplanes. The F/A-18 and EF-18 share a common airframe, and some mission overlap. And the question is perfectly clear... $\endgroup$
    – Michael Hall
    Commented May 31, 2021 at 14:33

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You asked about visual differences. The main visual difference is that there are no guns on the EA-18G, just AIM-120 AMRAAM or AGM-88 HARM missiles. Other than that the visual differences are minimal. The airframe is still a F/A-18F Super Hornet, where -F stands for twin-seat. Engines are also the same General Electric F414-GE-400, however I suspect there could be some differences in regards to the engine auxiliary equipment, such as the electrical generator. I also suspect there is additional equipment added for the sole purpose of conditioning the electrical power and insulating everything to keep interference minimal. It is even possible that there are optical fibers in areas where on the F/A-18F copper cables are still used.

Main differences:

  • Dedicated electronic attack equipment, e.g. what makes the aircraft an EA-18G, has been put in the place of the cannon.
  • The EA-18G has one extra protruding antenna on the back, along with the satcom antenna behind it.
  • The missile launch rails on the ends of the wings seem to be permanently modified to support the ALQ-218 Tactical Jamming Receiver, which is the same pod as on the EA-6B Prowler.

Here is an image of the EA-Growler showing some of the external modifications and what they’re for: Source: airforce.gov.au/Archive.org

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    $\begingroup$ Archive.org to the rescue. $\endgroup$
    – rkantos
    Commented Dec 5, 2018 at 23:16
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Physically, an EA-18G is a EW derivative of the F/A-18F Super Hornet multirole fighter. This was a cost effective means for the Navy to develop a replacement for the EA-6B Prowler aircraft for the fleet SEAD/DEAD role. The most obvious physical differences between the Growler and the Rhino are the replacement of the missile rails on the wingtips with the ALQ-218 electronics pods as well an additional external antenna. The M-61 gun has been removed on the EA-18 and replaced with an electronics pallette. Loaded out Growlers will usually sport 2 or more ALQ-99 jamming pods on the wing and centerline ordnance stations, easily recognized by their oblong shapes and front mounted RAT power generator.

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