OVERVIEW: The Northrop Grumman (formerly Grumman) EA-6B Prowler is a twin-engine, mid-wing electronic warfare aircraft derived from the A-6 Intruder airframe. The EA-6A was the initial electronic warfare version of the A-6 used by the United States Marine Corps in the 1960s. Development on the more advanced EA-6B began in 1966. An EA-6B aircrew consists of one pilot and three Electronic Countermeasures Officers, though it is not uncommon for only two ECMOs to be used on missions. It is capable of carrying and firing anti-radiation missiles (ARM), such as the AGM-88 HARM missile.

Prowler has been in service with the U.S. Armed Forces since 1971. It has carried out numerous missions for jamming enemy radar systems, and in gathering radio intelligence on those and other enemy air defense systems. From the 1998 retirement of the United States Air Force EF-111 Raven electronic warfare aircraft, the EA-6B was the only dedicated electronic warfare plane available for missions by the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, and the United States Air Force until the fielding of the Navy's EA-18G Growler in 2009.

DETAILS: Designed for carrier-based and advanced base operations, the EA-6B is a fully integrated electronic warfare system combining long-range, all-weather capabilities with advanced electronic countermeasures. A forward equipment bay and pod-shaped fairing on the vertical fin house the additional avionics equipment. It is now the primary electronic warfare aircraft for the U.S Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Air Force. The primary mission of the EA-6B is to support ground-attack strikes by disrupting enemy electromagnetic activity. As a secondary mission it can also gather tactical electronic intelligence within a combat zone, and another secondary mission is attacking enemy radar sites with anti-radiation missiles.

The Prowler has a crew of four, a pilot and three Electronic Countermeasures Officers (known as ECMOs). Powered by two non-afterburning Pratt & Whitney J52-P-408A turbojet engines, it is capable of speeds of up to 590 mph (950 km/h) with a range of 1,140 miles (1,840 km).

Design particulars include the refueling probe being asymmetrical, appearing bent to the right. It contains an antenna near its root. The canopy has a shading of gold to protect the crew against the radio emissions that the electronic warfare equipment produces.

TYPE: All Weather Electronic Warfare/Attack Aircraft.

SPECIFICATIONS: Crew: (4) || Length: 59 ft 10 in (17.7 m) || Wingspan: 53 ft (15.9 m) || Height: 16 ft 8 in (4.9 m) || Max. takeoff weight: 61,500 lb (27,900 kg) || Powerplant: (2) Pratt & Whitney J52-P408A turbojet, 10,400 lbf (46 kN) each.

PERFORMANCE: Max Speed: 566 knots (651 mph, 1,050 km/h) || Range: 2,022 mi (tanks kept) / 2,400 mi (tanks dropped) (3,254 km / 3,861 km) || Service ceiling: 37,600 ft (11,500 m) || Rate of climb: 12,900 ft/min (65 m/s) || Thrust/weight: 0.34.

SENSORS: AN/APS-130 Surface Search Radar || AN/ALQ-86 ELINT || AN/UQS-113 COMINT || AN/UQS-113 Communications Jammer || AN/ALQ-218 Tactical Jamming System Receiver || AN/USQ-113 Communications Jamming System.

ARMAMENT: Hardpoints: (5) total: (1) centerline/under-fuselage plus (4) under-wing pylon stations with a capacity of 18,000 pounds (8,164.7 kg) || AGM-88 HARM Anti-radiation missiles (2x typically carried) || AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System (TJS) external pods || AN/ALE-43(V)1&4 Bulk Chaff Dispensing System pod || AN/AAQ-28(V) LITENING targeting pod (USMC only).

SOURCE: [SCO] Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org