Grumman EA-6B Prowler
The Grumman EA-6B Prowler was developed primarily to replace older electronic warfare aircraft in US Navy service, namely the EKA-3B Skywarrior, as well as in response to the growing lethality of Eastern Bloc electronic threats. Initially, the ALQ-99 electronics suite was installed in a standard A-6 Intruder airframe as the EA-6A, but the aircraft was somewhat limited and workload was heavier for a two-man crew, especially in combat. EA-6As did see combat in Vietnam with the US Marine Corps, but something better was clearly needed. The result was the lengthened EA-6B Prowler, which upgraded the electronics suite considerably and also added two more crewmembers to reduce workload and increase effectiveness. The EA-6B first flew in May 1968, and entered US Navy and Marine service in 1971, just too late for service in Vietnam.
The ALQ-99 system is divided between several antennae on the aircraft, including the distinctive “football” antenna at the top of the tail. Most of the noise jammers are in the three or five underwing pods the Prowler almost always carries, though in the case of a three-pod arrangement, often antiradar missiles such as the AGM-88 HARM. It can also be used as an Elint aircraft.
Continually updated over its life, the EA-6B saw action in both Gulf Wars, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Kosovo; in service over the Middle East, the Prowler proved effective in jamming IED detonation signals. With the retirement of the USAF’s EF-111 Ravens, the EA-6B is now the sole ECM aircraft in US service, further contributing to the overwork of the aircraft, and has often been the only ECM aircraft available in NATO operations as well. The last of the A-6 family in service, the Prowlers are rapidly disappearing from the inventory as the EA-18G Growler replaces it.
This is a 1/144 scale EA-6B I built for my fictional air force, though only the markings differentiate it from a standard US Navy aircraft; it carries the same modern camouflage of two shades of gray. Since I named the squadron the "Scarlet Witches" (they bring bad luck to enemies--and yes, this was long before the second Avengers movie came out), it carries full color red tail logos and fuselage stripes. The three ALQ-99 ECM pods, single AGM-88 HARM, and AGM-78 Standard ARM is not a typical loadout, but I wanted to do something different. Even in 1/144 scale, this is a fairly large kit.
Grumman EA-6B Prowler
The Grumman EA-6B Prowler was developed primarily to replace older electronic warfare aircraft in US Navy service, namely the EKA-3B Skywarrior, as well as in response to the growing lethality of Eastern Bloc electronic threats. Initially, the ALQ-99 electronics suite was installed in a standard A-6 Intruder airframe as the EA-6A, but the aircraft was somewhat limited and workload was heavier for a two-man crew, especially in combat. EA-6As did see combat in Vietnam with the US Marine Corps, but something better was clearly needed. The result was the lengthened EA-6B Prowler, which upgraded the electronics suite considerably and also added two more crewmembers to reduce workload and increase effectiveness. The EA-6B first flew in May 1968, and entered US Navy and Marine service in 1971, just too late for service in Vietnam.
The ALQ-99 system is divided between several antennae on the aircraft, including the distinctive “football” antenna at the top of the tail. Most of the noise jammers are in the three or five underwing pods the Prowler almost always carries, though in the case of a three-pod arrangement, often antiradar missiles such as the AGM-88 HARM. It can also be used as an Elint aircraft.
Continually updated over its life, the EA-6B saw action in both Gulf Wars, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Kosovo; in service over the Middle East, the Prowler proved effective in jamming IED detonation signals. With the retirement of the USAF’s EF-111 Ravens, the EA-6B is now the sole ECM aircraft in US service, further contributing to the overwork of the aircraft, and has often been the only ECM aircraft available in NATO operations as well. The last of the A-6 family in service, the Prowlers are rapidly disappearing from the inventory as the EA-18G Growler replaces it.
This is a 1/144 scale EA-6B I built for my fictional air force, though only the markings differentiate it from a standard US Navy aircraft; it carries the same modern camouflage of two shades of gray. Since I named the squadron the "Scarlet Witches" (they bring bad luck to enemies--and yes, this was long before the second Avengers movie came out), it carries full color red tail logos and fuselage stripes. The three ALQ-99 ECM pods, single AGM-88 HARM, and AGM-78 Standard ARM is not a typical loadout, but I wanted to do something different. Even in 1/144 scale, this is a fairly large kit.