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 were replaced by the EF-18G Growler, and the last was retired around 2016.
Surprisingly for the last operational Prowler in service, the history of BuNo 163890 is hard to find. It joined the Navy sometime in the 1980s, and served with both VAQ-134 ("Garudas") and VAQ-135 ("Black Ravens") during its career, home-ported at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. It saw combat in the Second Gulf War over Iraq between 2003 and 2015, Afghanistan, and possibly the First Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm) in 1991 as well. Its last at-sea deployment was with VAQ-134 on the USS George HW Bush (CVN-77). In 2015, it made the last flight of an operational EA-6B, leaving Whidbey Island for Point Mugu, California.
Today, 163890 is on display at the Point Mugu Missile Park, and is maintained in excellent condition. I saw it in June 2023.
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 were replaced by the EF-18G Growler, and the last was retired around 2016.
Surprisingly for the last operational Prowler in service, the history of BuNo 163890 is hard to find. It joined the Navy sometime in the 1980s, and served with both VAQ-134 ("Garudas") and VAQ-135 ("Black Ravens") during its career, home-ported at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. It saw combat in the Second Gulf War over Iraq between 2003 and 2015, Afghanistan, and possibly the First Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm) in 1991 as well. Its last at-sea deployment was with VAQ-134 on the USS George HW Bush (CVN-77). In 2015, it made the last flight of an operational EA-6B, leaving Whidbey Island for Point Mugu, California.
Today, 163890 is on display at the Point Mugu Missile Park, and is maintained in excellent condition. I saw it in June 2023.