EA-6B Prowler

EA-6B Prowler
A U.S. Navy EA-6B Prowler
Role	Electronic attack
Manufacturer	Grumman
First flight	25 May 1968[1]
Introduced	July 1971
Status	Active
Primary users	United States Navy United States Marine Corps
Number built	170
Unit cost	US$52 million
Developed from	A-6 Intruder

The EA-6B Prowler is a twin-engine, mid-wing electronic warfare aircraft manufactured by Grumman (now Northrop Grumman) as a modification of the basic A-6 Intruder airframe.

Development

The EA-6A "Electric Intruder" was developed for the United States Marine Corps in the 1960s to replace the EF-10B Skyknight. It was a direct conversion of the standard two-seat A-6 Intruder airframe fitted with electronic warfare (EW) equipment. The EA-6A was used by three USMC squadrons during Vietnam War. A total of 27 were built with 15 of those being new builds.^[2] Most were retired in the 1970s with the last few retiring in the 1990s.^[3] The EA-6A was essentially an interim aircraft.

A Marine EA-6A Intruder over Cherry Point, 1978. The two-seat EA-6A would be followed by the more advanced four-seat EA-6B Prowler.

The much more advanced and substantially redesigned EA-6B was developed beginning in 1966 as a replacement for EKA-3B Skywarriors for the United States Navy. The forward fuselage was lengthened for a larger four-seat cockpit and the antenna fairing added to the tip of the vertical stabilizer.^[2] The Prowler first flew on 25 May 1968 and entered service in July 1971.^[4] Three prototype EA-6Bs were converted from A-6As and five EA-6Bs were development airframes. A total of 170 EA-6B production aircraft were built through 1991.^[3]

The Prowler is powered by two non-afterburning jet engines and is capable of high subsonic speeds. Since EW operations are very demanding, the Prowler is a high-maintenance aircraft and also undergoes more frequent equipment upgrades than any other aircraft in the Navy. Although designed as an electronic escort and command and control platform for strike missions, the EA-6B is also capable of attacking surface targets on its own, especially radar antennae, surface-to-air missile launchers, and other enemy defenses. In addition, the aircraft is highly capable of gathering electronic intelligence.

The EA-6B Prowler has been continually upgraded over the years. The first was which was named "expanded capability" (EXCAP) beginning in 1973. Then came "improved capability" (ICAP) in 1976 and ICAP II in 1980. ICAP II provided the capability to fire AGM-88 HARM missiles.^[3]

Advanced Capability EA-6B

EA-6B ADVCAP

The Advanced Capability EA-6B Prowler (ADVCAP) was a development program initiated to improve the flying qualities of the EA-6B and to upgrade the avionics and electronic warfare systems. The intention was to modify all EA-6Bs into the ADVCAP configuration, however the program was removed from the Fiscal Year 1995 budget due to financial pressure from competing Department of Defense acquisition programs.

The ADVCAP development program was initiated in the late 1980s and was broken into three distinct phases: Full-Scale Development (FSD), Vehicle Enhancement Program (VEP) and the Avionics Improvement Program (AIP).

FSD served primarily to evaluate the new AN/ALQ-149 Electronic Warfare System. The program utilized a slightly modified EA-6B to house the new system.

The VEP added numerous changes to the aircraft to address deficiencies with the original EA-6B flying qualities, particularly lateral-directional problems that hampered recovery from out-of-control flight. Bureau Number 158542 was used. Changes included:

• Leading edge strakes (to improve directional stability)
• Fin pod extension (to improve directional stability)
• Ailerons (to improve slow speed lateral control)
• Re-contoured leading edge slats and trailing edge flaps (to compensate for an increase in gross weight)
• Two additional wing stations on the outer wing panel (for jamming pods only)
• New J52-P-409 engines (increased thrust by 2,000 lbf (8.9 kN) per engine)
• New digital Standard Automatic Flight Control System (SAFCS)

The added modifications increased the aircraft gross weight approximately 2,000 pound (900 kg) and shifted the center of gravity 3% MAC aft of the baseline EA-6B. When operating at sustained high angles of attack, fuel migration would cause additional shifts in CG with the result that the aircraft had slightly negative longitudinal static stability. Results of flight tests of the new configuration showed greatly improved flying qualities and the rearward shift of the CG had minimal impact.

"FrankenProwler" during a preflight inspection at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq.

The AIP prototype (bureau number 158547) represented the final ADVCAP configuration, incorporating all of the FSD and VEP modifications plus a completely new avionics suite which added multi-function displays to all crew positions, a head-up display for the pilot, and dual Global Positioning/Inertial navigation systems. The initial joint test phase between the contractor and the US Navy test pilots completed successfully with few deficiencies.

After the program was canceled, the three experimental Prowlers, BuNo 156482, 158542 and 158547, were mothballed until 1999. During the next several years, the three aircraft were dismantled and reassembled creating a single aircraft, b/n 158542, which the Navy dubbed "FrankenProwler". It was returned to active service 23 March 2005.^[5]

Improved Capability (ICAP)

Northrop Grumman received contracts from the US Navy to deliver new electronic countermeasures gear to Prowler squadrons; the heart of each ICAP III set consists of the ALQ-218 receiver and new software that provides more precise selective-reactive radar jamming and deception and threat location. The ICAP III sets also are equipped with the Multifunction Information Distribution System (MIDS), which includes the Link 16 data link system. Northrop has delivered two lots and will be delivering two more beginning in 2010.^[6]

Design

Designed for carrier and advanced base operations, the Prowler is a fully integrated electronic warfare system combining long-range, all-weather capabilities with advanced electronic countermeasures. A forward equipment bay and pod-shaped fairing on the vertical fin house the additional avionics equipment. It is the United States Navy's (USN) and the Marine Corps' primary electronic warfare aircraft. The primary mission of the aircraft is to support ground-attack aircraft and troops by interrupting enemy electronic activity and obtaining tactical electronic intelligence within a combat area.

The Prowler has a crew of four, a pilot and three Electronic Countermeasures Officers (known as ECMOs). Powered by two non-afterburning Pratt & Whitney J52-P-408 turbojet engines, it is capable of speeds of up to 590 miles per hour (950 km/h) with a range of 1,140 miles (1,840 kilometers).

Design particulars include the refueling probe being asymmetrical, appearing bent to the right; it contains an antenna near its root. The canopy has a shading of gold to protect the crew against the radio emissions that the electronic warfare equipment produces.

Operational history

EA-6B Prowler takes off from Eielson AFB. Note the tint of the gold embedded in the canopy. The gold provides protection from electromagnetic interference and prevents some EM emissions

Since the retirement of the EF-111 Raven in 1995, the EA-6B is one of the primary aerial radar jammers in the Department of Defense (DoD) arsenal. It has been utilized in practically every U.S. combat operation and is frequently flown in support of the United States Air Force.

About 125 Prowlers remain today, divided between twelve Navy, four Marine, and four joint Navy-Air Force "Expeditionary" squadrons. A JCS staff study recommended that the EF-111 Raven be retired to reduce Type/Model/Series aircraft dedicated to the same mission, which led to an OSD Program Decision Memorandum (PDM) to establish 4 "expeditionary" Prowler squadrons composed of Navy and USAF personnel to meet the needs of the Air Force.^{[citation needed]}

Though once considered being replaced by Common Support Aircraft, the original plan failed to materialize. Although EA-6B remains in service today, the Navy EA-6B Prowler community is slated to be begin transitioning in 2009 to the EA-18G Growler, a new electronic warfare derivative of the F/A-18F Super Hornet. All but one of the active duty Navy EA-6B squadrons are based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, located in the northwest corner of the state of Washington. VAQ-136 is stationed at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, as part of Carrier Air Wing 5, the forward deployed naval forces (FDNF) air wing that embarks aboard the Japan-based USS George Washington (CVN-73). VAQ-209, the Navy Reserve's sole remaining EA-6B squadron, is stationed at Naval Air Facility Washington, Maryland. All Marine Corps EA-6B squadrons are located at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.

Operations in Afghanistan & Iraq

According to news reports, the Prowler has been used in anti-improvised explosive device operations in the current conflict in Afghanistan for several years by jamming remote detonation devices such as garage door openers or cellular telephones.^[7] Two Prowler squadrons are also based in Iraq, working with the same mission.^[8]

Operators

An EA-6B Prowler from VAQ-138 carrying two wing mounted jamming pods.

The EA-6B Prowler is operated by the United States, and has squadrons in both its Marine Corps and Navy.

USMC squadrons

VMAQ squadrons operate the EA-6B Prowler.^[9] Each of the four squadrons operates five aircraft and are land-based, although they are capable of operating aboard U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and have done so in the past.^[10][11]

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname	Date Commissioned	Senior Command	Station
VMAQ-1		Banshees	1 July 1992	MAG-14, 2nd MAW	MCAS Cherry Point, NC[12]
VMAQ-2		Death Jesters	15 September 1952	MAG-14, 2nd MAW	MCAS Cherry Point, NC[13]
VMAQ-3		Moon Dogs	1 July 1992	MAG-14, 2nd MAW	MCAS Cherry Point, NC[14]
VMAQ-4		Seahawks	7 November 1981	MAG-14, 2nd MAW	MCAS Cherry Point, NC[15]

The USMC is investigating an electronic attack role for the F-35 Lightning II to replace their Prowlers.^[16]

USN squadrons

A typical Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron consists of four EA-6B Prowlers. Navy Electronic Attack squadrons carry the letters VAQ (V-fixed wing, A-attack, Q-electronic). Most VAQ squadrons are carrier based, however a number are "expeditionary", deploying to overseas land bases.^[17]

Squadron Name	Insignia	Nickname	Date Commissioned	Carrier air wing	Station
VAQ-129		Vikings	1 September 1970	Fleet Replacement Squadron[18]	NAS Whidbey Island[19]
VAQ-130		Zappers	1 October 1968	CVW-3	NAS Whidbey Island[20]
VAQ-131		Lancers	1946	CVW-2	NAS Whidbey Island[21]
VAQ-133		Wizards	4 March 1969	Expeditionary	NAS Whidbey Island[22]
VAQ-134		Garudas	7 June 1969	Expeditionary	NAS Whidbey Island[23]
VAQ-135		Black Ravens	15 May 1969	CVW-11	NAS Whidbey Island[24]
VAQ-136		Gauntlets	6 April 1973	CVW-5	NAF Atsugi[25]
VAQ-137		Rooks	14 December 1973	CVW-1	NAS Whidbey Island[26]
VAQ-138		Yellowjackets	February 1976	CVW-9	NAS Whidbey Island[27]
VAQ-139		Cougars	1 July 1983	CVW-14	NAS Whidbey Island[28]
VAQ-140		Patriots	1 October 1985	CVW-7	NAS Whidbey Island[29]
VAQ-141		Shadowhawks		CVW-8	NAS Whidbey Island
VAQ-142		Gray Wolves	1 June 1988	Expeditionary	NAS Whidbey Island[30]
VAQ-143		Cobras		Expeditionary	(Never Activated)
VAQ-209		Star Warriors	1 October 1977	Reserve Tactical Support Wing	NAF Washington[31]

Notable incidents

While no Prowler has ever been lost in combat, over forty were destroyed in various accidents as of 2007.

• On 26 May 1981, a USMC EA-6B crashed onto the flight deck of the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and caused a fire, killing 14 crew men and injuring 45 others.^[32]
• A USMC EA-6B Prowler, BuNo 163045, from VMAQ-2 caused the Cavalese cable-car disaster on 3 February 1998, accidentally cutting the cables of a ski-lift in Italy during a low level flight in mountainous terrain and killing 20 civilians.
• In 1998, a memorial at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island was dedicated to 44 crew members lost in EA-6B aircraft accidents.^[33] Later that year, on 10 November 1998, that total increased to 48 when four crew members were killed when a USN EA-6B collided with an S-3 Viking during night landing qualifications on USS Enterprise (CVN-65).^[34] Five more aircraft have been lost since 1998, but none resulted in fatalities.

Specifications (EA-6B)

Two EA-6B Prowlers over Turkey flying in support of Operation Northern Watch, 2002.

An EA-6B patrols the skies over Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1995.

Data from US Navy Fact File,^[17] US Navy history page^[10]

General characteristics

• Crew: four (one pilot, three electronic countermeasures officers)
• Length: 59 ft 10 in (17.7 m)
• Wingspan: 53 ft (15.9 m)
• Height: 16 ft 8 in (4.9 m)
• Wing area: 528.9 ft² (49.1 m²)
• Empty weight: 31,160 lb (15,130 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 61,500 lb (27,900 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney J52-P408A turbojet, 10,400 lbf (46 kN) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 566 knots (651 mph, 1,050 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 418 kt (481 mph, 774 km/h)
• Range: 2,022 mi (tanks kept) / 2,400 mi (tanks dropped)^{[citation needed]} (3,254 km / 3,861 km)
• Service ceiling: 37,600 ft (11,500 m)
• Rate of climb: 12,900 ft/min (65 m/s)
• Wing loading: 116 lb/ft² (560 kg/m²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.34

Armament

• Up to 4 AGM-88 HARM antiradar missiles
• Up to 5 ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System (TJS) external pods
• Up to 5 300 gallon external drop tanks

Avionics

• ALQ-99 on board receiver (OBS), ALQ-99 pod mounted jamming system (TJS)
• USQ-113 communications jamming system

See also

United States Marine Corps portal

Related development

• A-6 Intruder
  

Comparable aircraft

• EF-111A Raven
• EA-18 Growler
  

Related lists

• List of active military aircraft of the United States
  

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Grumman EA-6 Prowler

• EA-6B Prowler Fact File and EA-6B history on Navy.mil
• Grumman EA-6B Prowler on NASA Langley site, discussion of ADCAP VEP and cooling modifications.
• EA-6B Prowler on GlobalSecurity.org
• EA-6B Gondola Mishap, Cavalese, Italy, 3 February 1998, Aviation Safety Consulting Services,
• "Navy pilots honor philanthropic locals", East Oregonian News, 29 April 2006.
• "Navy Making Significant Investment To Keep Prowlers Flying", Defense Daily, 16 October 2007.