EA-6B Prowler
The EA-6B Prowler is an electronic attack aircraft manufactured by Grumman as a modification of the basic A-6 Intruder airframe. The EA-6B Prowler was designed for carrier and advanced base operations. The aircraft’s primary mission is to support strike aircraft and ground troops.
The EA-6B Prowler is an electronic escort and command and control platform for strike missions, capable of attacking surface targets on its own. On May 2, 1968, a much more advanced and redesigned EA-6B first flew and entered service in July 1971 and the program was called the Advanced Capability EA-6B Prowler (ADVCAP). The program was initiated to improve the flying qualities of the EA-6B and to uprade the avionics and electronic warfare systems. The EA-6B has a crew of 4. It has a maximum speed of 566 knots and a range of 2,022 mi. The EA-6B Prowler incorporates two Pratt & Whitney J52-P408A turbojet. Armament include antiradar missiles Tactical Jamming System and external drop tanks.
Today, there are about 125 Prowlers that exists. In 2009, the EA-6B Prowler community will begin transitioning to the EA-18G Growler, a new electronic warfare based from the F/A-18F Super Hornet. The EA-6B Prowler, according to reports, has been used in anti-IED operations in the current conflict in Afghanistan for sevral years by jamming remote detonation devices such as garage door openers or cellular phones. There are two Prowler squadrons based in Iraq, working with the same mission. There’s a total of 170 EA-6B Prowlers built.
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