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 a 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.
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 electronics intelligence (Elint) aircraft.
Continually updated over its life, the EA-6B has also seen action in both Gulf Wars, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Kosovo; in service over the Middle East, the Prowler has proven effective in jamming IED detonation signals. With the retirement of the USAF’s EF-111 Ravens, the EA-6B was 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 Prowler has almost been completely replaced by the EF-18G Growler, beginning in 2009.
EA-6B BuNo 160436 has quite the story to tell. It joined the Navy in 1972, just too late for Vietnam, assigned to VAQ-130 ("Zappers") at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. It was transferred to the Marines and VMAQ-2 ("Playboys") at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina in 1981, and would remain with the squadron through 1992; it was deployed to the Persian Gulf and flew 38 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm. It would be bounced between the Marines' ECM squadrons, but was with VMAQ-4 ("Seahawks") when it returned to the Middle East and war, flying combat again over Iraq and Afghanistan. 160436 returned to Navy service as a testbed, flying with VX-9 ("Vampires") at NAS China Lake, California and VX-23 ("Salty Dogs") at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. Its career ended there in 2015, and it was donated to the Castle Air Museum, making its final flight there. As a two-war Prowler, the Navy was determined to save the aircraft for preservation.
Today, 160436 still carries the lightning bolt of VX-23 and "Strike Test" on the fuselage spine. It is starting to show the effects of California sunshine, but is still in good shape; this angle shows the gold-lined canopies of the EA-6B, chosen to better reflect electromagnetic energy.
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 a 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.
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 electronics intelligence (Elint) aircraft.
Continually updated over its life, the EA-6B has also seen action in both Gulf Wars, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Kosovo; in service over the Middle East, the Prowler has proven effective in jamming IED detonation signals. With the retirement of the USAF’s EF-111 Ravens, the EA-6B was 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 Prowler has almost been completely replaced by the EF-18G Growler, beginning in 2009.
EA-6B BuNo 160436 has quite the story to tell. It joined the Navy in 1972, just too late for Vietnam, assigned to VAQ-130 ("Zappers") at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. It was transferred to the Marines and VMAQ-2 ("Playboys") at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina in 1981, and would remain with the squadron through 1992; it was deployed to the Persian Gulf and flew 38 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm. It would be bounced between the Marines' ECM squadrons, but was with VMAQ-4 ("Seahawks") when it returned to the Middle East and war, flying combat again over Iraq and Afghanistan. 160436 returned to Navy service as a testbed, flying with VX-9 ("Vampires") at NAS China Lake, California and VX-23 ("Salty Dogs") at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. Its career ended there in 2015, and it was donated to the Castle Air Museum, making its final flight there. As a two-war Prowler, the Navy was determined to save the aircraft for preservation.
Today, 160436 still carries the lightning bolt of VX-23 and "Strike Test" on the fuselage spine. It is starting to show the effects of California sunshine, but is still in good shape; this angle shows the gold-lined canopies of the EA-6B, chosen to better reflect electromagnetic energy.