17:22 09-01-2026

How EA-18G Growlers Crippled Venezuela Air Defenses

Senior Airman John Linzmeier, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

An in-depth look at how U.S. Navy EA-18G Growlers suppressed Venezuela’s air defenses, secured electromagnetic dominance, and shaped the outcome of the operation.

The decisive element of the operation to seize Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was the suppression of the country’s national air defense system. According to military analysts and multiple media reports, including The Wall Street Journal, the turning point came from U. S. Navy electronic warfare aircraft, specifically the Boeing EA-18G Growler. These platforms were used to disable Venezuela’s radar coverage and military communications, effectively blinding the country’s air defenses.

On January 3, more than 150 U.S. military aircraft were active in Venezuelan airspace, with Growlers among them. During the raid on the presidential palace, the emphasis was placed not on conventional airstrikes but on dominating the electromagnetic environment. The EA-18G Growler is equipped with a sophisticated suite of sensors and jamming systems capable of detecting hostile radar emissions, analyzing them in real time, and suppressing them through targeted electronic attacks. As a result, air defense screens can become saturated with false targets or lose the ability to track real ones altogether, sharply reducing the effectiveness of surface-to-air missile systems.

Defense specialists note that this approach proved especially damaging for Venezuela. The country’s air defense network relies heavily on aging Soviet- and Russian-designed equipment, including various S-300 modifications and older radar stations. Under sustained electronic interference, these systems were left effectively «blind." Within military circles, the EA-18G Growler is often described as a force multiplier, capable of shielding and supporting entire air formations by neutralizing enemy detection and targeting capabilities.

During the operation, electronic warfare aircraft operated alongside a broad mix of U.S. aviation assets. F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II fighters were present in the skies, along with B-1B bombers, carrier-based Super Hornets, and reconnaissance drones. This composition underscored Washington’s intent to secure comprehensive dominance-not only of the airspace itself, but also of the electromagnetic domain in which modern warfare unfolds.

The use of electronic warfare aircraft drew additional attention because Venezuela’s air defense system, despite including elements considered modern on paper, suffered from chronic maintenance issues and limited operator training, according to analytical centers cited by New-Science.ru. These shortcomings likely increased its exposure to complex electronic attacks.

Experts conclude that control of the electromagnetic spectrum became one of the key factors behind the success of the assault. By suppressing radar and communications, U.S. forces created a critical window in which special operations units could act with minimal resistance from Venezuelan detection systems.