| EF-111A Raven | |
|---|---|
 |
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| The EF-111A Raven electronic warfare variant. | |
| Role | Electronic warfare |
| Manufacturer | General Dynamics, conversion by Grumman |
| First flight | 10 March 1977 |
| Introduced | 1981 |
| Retired | 1998 (USAF) |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
| Number built | 42 |
| Unit cost | US$15 million + $25 million each for conversion[1] |
| Developed from | General Dynamics F-111 |
The General Dynamics/Grumman EF-111A Raven was an electronic warfare aircraft designed to replace the obsolete Douglas EB-66 in the United States Air Force. Its crews and maintainers often called it the "Spark-Vark," a play on the F-111's "Aardvark" nickname.
In 1972, the USAF contracted Grumman to convert some existing General Dynamics F-111As into electronic warfare/ECM aircraft. The USAF had considered the Navy Grumman EA-6B Prowler, but was reluctant to adopt a Navy aircraft. After the EF-111 retired in the 1990s, the Air Force began depending on Navy and Marine Corps EA-6B squadrons for electronic warfare.
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Design and development
A contract to create EF-111s from existing F-111A airframes was awarded to Grumman in 1974. The first fully equipped model, known then as the "Electric Fox", flew on March 10, 1977, and deliveries to combat units began in 1981. A total of 42 airframes were converted at a total cost of $1.5 billion, the last delivered in 1985.[1] Each F-111A cost US$15 million, with each conversion costing US$25 million.[1]
The Raven retained the F-111A's navigation systems, with a revised AN/APQ-160 radar primarily for ground mapping. The primary feature of the Raven, however, was the Raytheon AN/ALQ-99E jamming system, developed from the Navy's ALQ-99 on the Prowler. Its primary electronics were installed in the weapons bay, with transmitters fitted in a 16 feet (4.9 m) long ventral "canoe" radome; the complete installation weighed some 6,000 pounds (2,700 kg). Receivers were installed in a fin-tip pod, or "football", similar to that of the EA-6B. The aircraft's electrical and cooling systems had to be extensively upgraded to support this equipment. The cockpit was also rearranged, with all flight and navigation displays relocated to the pilot's side, and flight controls except throttles being removed from the other seat, where the electronic warfare officer's instrumentation and controls were installed.
The EF-111 is unarmed. The aircraft's speed and acceleration were its main means of self-defense. The EF-111 was not capable of firing anti-radiation missiles in the lethal SEAD role, which was a tactical limitation. A few sources indicated that the inner wing pylons could be fitted to allow carriage of AIM-9 Sidewinders for self-defense.[citation needed] The EF-111A's engines were upgraded to the more powerful TF30-P-9 of the -D model, with 12,000 pounds-force (53 kN) dry and 19,600 lbf (87 kN) afterburning thrust[2] in 1986.[3]
From 1987 to 1994 the Spark 'Vark underwent an Avionics Modernization Program (AMP), similar to the Pacer Strike program for the F model. This added a dual AN/ASN-41 ring laser gyroscope INS, AN/APN-218 Doppler radar, and an updated AN/APQ-146 terrain-following radar. Cockpit displays were upgraded with multi-function displays borrowed from the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Operational history
In November 1983 the EF-111A achieved initial operational capability.[4] The EF-111A received the official popular name Raven, although in service it acquired the nickname "Spark 'Vark".
EF-111s saw combat use during Operation El Dorado Canyon in 1986 (retaliatory attack on Libya), Operation Just Cause in 1989 (Panama) and Operation Desert Storm in 1991. On January 17, 1991, a USAF EF-111 crew: Captain James Denton and Captain Brent Brandon ("Brandini") are acknowledged to have scored a kill against an Iraqi Dassault Mirage F1, which they managed to maneuver into the ground, making it the only F-111 to achieve an aerial victory over another aircraft.[1]
On February 13, 1991, EF-111A s/n 66-0023 crashed into terrain while maneuvering to evade a perceived enemy aircraft threat killing Pilot Capt. Douglas L. Bradt and EWO Capt. Paul R. Eichenlaub. It was the only EF-111A lost during combat, the only loss killing its crew and one of just three EF-111s lost in its history.[5] EF-111s were also deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy in support of Operation Deliberate Force during the mid-1990s.
Decommissioning
The last deployment of the Raven was a detachment of EF-111s stationed at Al Kharj Air Base in Saudi Arabia until April 1998.[3]
Shortly afterward, in May 1998, the USAF withdrew the final EF-111As from service, placing them in storage at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC). These were the final F-111s in service with the USAF.[3] In the short term, EA-6B Prowlers are fulfilling this function for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.
Operators
Survivors
Of the 42 converted aircraft, 36 were sent to AMARG or scrapped, 3 were destroyed in crashes and 4 are on display, as one of the AMARG aircraft is now sitting on AMARG's display row:[6]
- 66-0016 is on display at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. It was the first F-111 to fly a combat mission and was credited with the Mirage F1 kill.[7] It bears the names of Pilot Capt. Douglas L. Bradt and EWO Capt. Paul R. Eichenlaub, the crew killed aboard 66-0023 during the Gulf War.[8]
- 66-0049 was the first prototype EF-111 and is on display at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.
- 66-0057 is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.[9]
- 66-0039 is located on the display row of the AMARG facility, which is part of the facility tour. According to a June 2008 AMARG inventory website, 32 other EF-111As remain at the facility, located in area 23 and 24. The 2 others sent to AMARG have likely been destroyed by scrapping.[10][11]
Specifications (EF-111A)
Specifications are for EF-111A except where noted.
Data from The Great Book of Modern Warplanes [12] Miller,[13] Modern Fighting Aircraft[14]
General characteristics
- Crew: Two: pilot and electronic warfare officer
- Length: 76.0 ft (23.17 m)
- Wingspan: 63.0 ft spread, 32.0 ft swept (19.2 m / 9.74 m)
- Height: 20.0 ft (6.1 m)
- Wing area: 657.4 ft² spread, 525 ft² swept (61.07 m² / 48.77 m²)
- Airfoil: NACA 64-210.68 root, NACA 64-209.80 tip
- Empty weight: 55,275 lb (25,072 kg)
- Loaded weight: 70,000 lb[15] (31,751 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 89,000 lb (40,370 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-3 initially, later upgraded to TF30-P-9 turbofans with afterburner, 19,600 lbf (TF30-P-9) (92.7 kN (TF30-P-9)) each
- Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0186 (F-111D)
- Drag area: 9.36 ft² (0.87 m²) (F-111D)
- Aspect ratio: 7.56 unswept; 1.95 fully swept (F-111D)
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 2.2 (1,460 mph, 2,350 km/h) ; above 30,000 ft
- Range: 2,000 miles[16] (1,740 nmi, 3,220 km)
- Ferry range: 3,800 mi (3,300 nmi, 6,110 km)
- Service ceiling: 45,000 ft[15] (13,715 m)
- Rate of climb: 11,000 ft/min[15] (3,353 m/min)
- Thrust/weight: 0.598
- Lift-to-drag ratio: 15.8 (F-111)
See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
References
- ^ a b c d "EF-111A Raven". GlobalSecurity.org. 2005-04-27. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/ef-111a.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-01. "Development of the EF-111A Raven ["Spark Varks"] began in January 1975 when the Air Force contracted with Grumman Aerospace to modify two F-111As to serve as electronic warfare platforms."
- ^ Logan 1998, pp. 17, 92, 303.
- ^ a b c Baugher, Joe. "Grumman EF-111A Raven". USAAC/USAAF/USAF Fighters, 20 December 1999.
- ^ Gunston 1983, p. 59.
- ^ F-111.net. F-111 combat operations. April 14, 2006
- ^ F-111A Tail numbers. F-111.net, April 14, 2006
- ^ Logan 1998, p. 93.
- ^ In both Citations for the Distinguished Flying Crosses for Captains Denton and Brandon (signed by LT GEN Charles Horner - CENTAF CC) "...a low altitude air battle followed during which Capts Denton and Brandon eluded a missile attack, followed by the destruction of an attacking Mirage F1 as it impacted the ground." In the official retirement remarks on May 2, 1998 by Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, LT General David L. Vesely recited the OFFICIAL history of the Aircraft 66-0016, pointing out the "downing of an Iraqi Mirage F1 on the first wave attack by Capts Brandon and Denton" and explaining that is why that airframe was chosen to represent the EF-111 on static display.[citation needed]
- ^ National Museum of the United States Air Force. General Dynamics EF-111A Raven Fact Sheet.
- ^ AMARC registry. June 2008.
- ^ Images of AMARC display row aircraft. 2004.
- ^ Gunston, Bill (1987). The Great Book of Modern Warplanes. ISBN 0-517-63367-1.
- ^ Miller 1982, p. 66.
- ^ Gunston 1983, p. 64.
- ^ a b c Timothy M. Laur Colonel, Steven L. Llanso (1995). Encyclopedia of Modern U.S. Military Weapons. ISBN 0-425-16437-3.
- ^ "F-111 Aardvark". GlobalSecurity.org. 2005-04-27. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/f-111-specs.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-01. "2,000 miles (1,740 nautical miles) EF-111A"
- Eden, Paul, ed. "General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark/EF-111 Raven". Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft. London: Amber Books, 2004. ISBN 1-90468-784-9.
- Gunston, Bill. F-111, Modern Fighting Aircraft, Vol. 3. New York: Salamander Books, 1983. ISBN 0-668-05904-4.
- Logan, Don. General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military History, 1998. ISBN 0-7643-0587-5.
- Miller, Jay. General Dynamics F-111 "Arardvark". Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers, 1982. ISBN 0-8168-0606-3.
- Tornborough, Anthony and Peter E. Davies. F-111 Success in Action. London: Arms and Armour Press Ldt., 1988. ISBN 0853689881.
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