Grumman
Grumman EA-6B Prowler
Manufactured 1966-1991
Grumman Aerospace EA-6B Prowler
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| General information | |
|---|---|
| Type | Electronic warfare/Attack aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Grumman Northrop Grumman |
| Status | Retired[1] |
| Primary users | United States Navy (historical)United States Marine Corps (historical) |
| Number built | 170 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1966-1991 |
| Introduction date | July 1971 |
| First flight | 25 May 1968 |
| Retired | 2015 (USN) March 2019 (USMC) |
| Developed from | Grumman A-6 Intruder |
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History Grumm![]()
an Aerospace
Grumman EA-6B Prowler
The Northrop Grumman (formerly Grumman) EA-6B Prowler is a twin-engine, four-seat, mid-wing electronic-warfare aircraft derived from the A-6 Intruder airframe. The EA-6A was the initial electronic warfare version of the A-6 used by the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy. Development on the more advanced EA-6B began in 1966. An EA-6B aircrew consisted of one pilot and three Electronic Countermeasures Officers, though it was not uncommon for only two ECMOs to be used on missions. It was capable of carrying and firing anti-radiation missiles (ARMs), such as the AGM-88 HARM.
The Prowler was in service with the U.S. Armed Forces from 1971 until 2019. It carried out numerous missions for jamming enemy radar systems, and in gathering radio intelligence on those and other enemy air defense systems. From the 1998 retirement of the United States Air Force EF-111 Raven electronic warfare aircraft, the EA-6B was the only dedicated electronic warfare plane available for missions by the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps, and the U.S. Air Force until the fielding of the Navy's EA-18G Growler in 2009. Following its last deployment in late 2014, the EA-6B was withdrawn from U.S. Navy service in June 2015, followed by the USMC in March 2019
The EA-6A "Electric Intruder" was developed for the U.S. Marine Corps during the 1960s to replace its EF-10B Skyknights. The EA-6A was a direct conversion of the standard A-6 Intruder airframe, with two seats, equipped with electronic warfare (EW) equipment. The EA-6A was used by three Marine Corps squadrons during the Vietnam War. A total of 27 EA-6As were produced, 15 of which were newly manufactured. Most of these EA-6As were retired from service in the 1970s with the last few being used by the Navy with two electronic attack "aggressor" squadrons, with all examples finally retired in the 1990s.[4] The EA-6A was essentially an interim warplane until the more-advanced EA-6B could be designed and built.0
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Grumman EA-6B Prowler
Grumman Aerospace Corporation
Grumman EA-6B Prowler
General characteristics
- Crew: 4 (one pilot, three electronic countermeasures officers)
- Length: 59 ft 10 in (18.24 m)
- Wingspan: 53 ft (16 m)
- Height: 16 ft 8 in (5.08 m)
- Wing area: 528.9 sq ft (49.14 m2)
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Powerplant
- Empty weight: 31,160 lb (14,134 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 61,500 lb (27,896 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney J52-P-408A turbojet engines, 10,400 lbf (46 kN) thrust each
Specifications
- Maximum speed: 1,048 km/h
- Cruise speed: 774 km/h
- Range: 3,745 km (tanks kept)
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- 3,900 km) (tanks dropped)
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- Service ceiling: 37,600 ft (11,500 m)
- Rate of climb: 12,900 ft/min (66 m/s)
Armament
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- Hardpoints: 5 total: 1× centerline/under-fuselage plus 4× under-wing pylon stations with a capacity of 18,000 pounds (8,200 kg), with provisions to carry combinations of:
- Missiles: Up to 4× AGM-88 HARM Anti-radiation missiles (typically 2x carried)
- Other:
- Up to 5× 300 US gallons (1,100 L) external drop tanks
- Up to 5× AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System (TJS) external pods
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- Hardpoints: 5 total: 1× centerline/under-fuselage plus 4× under-wing pylon stations with a capacity of 18,000 pounds (8,200 kg), with provisions to carry combinations of:
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Links to Youtube & Others
This was the first U.S. military aircraft specifically designed for tactical electronic warfare— jamming enemy radar and communications while escorting aircraft on strike and bombing missions.
Grumman
EA-6B Prowler
The EA-6B flew its first combat missions in Vietnam and its last supporting the Global War on Terror
Youtube Link
At the time of filming, the only recognizable star in the movie was Tom Cruise, who was known as a teen idol from 1983’s “Risky Business.”.
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