In a recent post on social media, 2 military jets were sighted at CVG Airport in Cincinnati. This confused those who knew about this airport since it does not have a military presence and is a public international airport that serves the likes of Delta.

The two planes in fact were Boeing EA-18G Growlers, which were likely using the airport to refuel. Cincinnati Bengals fans will have likely seen the planes on Sunday when one plane performed a flyover of Paycor Stadium when they hosted the Colts.

The Boeing EA-18G Growler is an electronic warfare aircraft that is based on the F/A-18F Super Hornet airframe. It is designed to provide electronic attack (EA) capabilities, which means it can disrupt, jam, or disable enemy radar and communication systems. The Growler is primarily used by the United States Navy (USN) to support and protect strike aircraft and ground troops by disrupting the enemy’s ability to detect and target them.

For those curious, the price of a Boeing EA-18G Growler can vary depending on several factors, including the specific configuration, quantities ordered, and any additional equipment or upgrades. The unit cost for an EA-18G Growler was estimated to be in the range of $68-78 million per aircraft, so the photo likely contains approximately $140 million of equipment.