Американский самолет радиоэлектронной борьбы, базирующийся на авианосцах.

American carrier based electronic warfare aircraft

The Northrop Grumman (formerly Grumman) EA 6B Prowler is a twin engine, four seat, 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 and United States Navy; it was used during the Vietnam War. Development on the more advanced EA 6B began in 1966. An EA 6B aircrew consisted of one pilot and three Electronic Countermeasures Officers, though it was not uncommon for only two ECMOs to be used on missions. It was capable of carrying and firing anti radiation missiles (ARMs), such as the AGM 88 HARM. The EA 6A was a direct conversion of the standard A 6 Intruder airframe, with two seats, equipped with electronic warfare (EW) equipment. The EA 6A first entered service in Marine Corps squadrons in December 1965, and saw action in Operation Rolling Thunder; Most of these EA 6As were retired from service in the 1970s with the last few being used by the Navy with two electronic attack "aggressor" squadrons, with all examples finally retired in the 1990s. The EA 6A was essentially an interim warplane until the more advanced EA 6B could be designed and built. The substantially redesigned and more advanced EA 6B was developed beginning in 1966 as a replacement for EKA 3B Skywarriors for the U. S. Navy. The forward fuselage was lengthened to create a rear area for a larger four seat cockpit, and an antenna fairing was added to the tip of its vertical stabilizer. The Prowler first flew on 25 May 1968, and it entered service on aircraft carriers in July 1971. Three prototype EA 6Bs were converted from A 6As, and five EA 6Bs were developmental airplanes. A total of 170 EA 6B production aircraft were manufactured from 1966 through 1991.

Northrop Grumman received contracts from the U. S. Navy to deliver new electronic countermeasures gear to Prowler squadrons; the heart of each ICAP III set consists of the ALQ 218 receiver and new software that provides more precise selective reactive radar jamming and deception and threat location. The ICAP III sets also are equipped with the Multifunction Information Distribution System (MIDS), which includes the Link 16 data link system. Northrop delivered two lots and delivered two more beginning in 2010. The EA 6B Prowlers in service toward the end of its life were the ICAP III version, carrying the ALQ 99 Tactical Jamming System.

Designed for carrier based and advanced base operations, the EA 6B was a fully integrated electronic warfare system combining long range, all weather capabilities with advanced electronic countermeasures. Design particulars included the refueling probe being asymmetrical, appearing bent to the right to improve pilot visibility over that of the A 6 Intruder. It contained an antenna near its root. The canopy had a shading of gold to protect the crew against the radio emissions that the electronic warfare equipment produces.

The EA 6B entered service with Fleet Replacement Squadron VAQ 129 in September 1970, and Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 132 (VAQ 132) became the first operational squadron, in July 1971. This squadron began its first combat deployment to Vietnam on America 11 months later, soon followed by VAQ 131 on Enterprise and VAQ 134 on Constellation. Two squadrons of EA 6B Prowlers flew 720 sorties during the Vietnam War in support of US Navy attack aircraft and USAF B 52 bombers. During the 1983 invasion of Grenada, four Prowlers supported the operation from Independence. Following the Achille Lauro hijacking, on 10 October 1985 Prowlers from Saratoga provided ESM support during the interception of the EgyptAir 737 carrying four of the hijackers. Prowlers jammed Libyan radar during Operation El Dorado Canyon in April 1986. Prowlers from VAQ 135 on Enterprise jammed Iranian Ground Control Intercept radars, surface to air missile guidance radars and communication systems during Operation Praying Mantis on 18 April 1988. From 2004 to 2014 the U. S. Air Force augmented Navy Prowler units with Electronic Warfare Officers from the 388th and 390th Electronic Combat Squadrons assigned to the 366th Operations Group at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. Though once considered being replaced by Common Support Aircraft, that plan failed to materialize. In 2009, the Navy EA 6B Prowler community began transitioning to the EA 18G Growler, a new electronic warfare derivative of the F/A 18F Super Hornet. All but one of the active duty Navy EA 6B squadrons were based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. VAQ 136 was stationed at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, as part of Carrier Air Wing 5, the forward deployed naval forces (FDNF) air wing that embarks aboard the Japan based George Washington. VAQ 209, the Navy Reserve's sole EA 6B squadron, was stationed at Naval Air Facility Washington, Maryland. All Marine Corps EA 6B squadrons were located at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. In 2013, the USN planned to fly the EA 6B until 2015, while the USMC expect to phase out the Prowler in 2019. The last Navy deployment was on George H. W. Bush in November 2014, with VAQ 134. The last Navy operational flight took place on 27 May 2015. Electronic Attack Wing, U. S. Pacific Fleet (CVWP), hosted a retirement commemoration for the EA 6B from 25 to 27 June 2015 at NAS Whidbey Island.

In 2007, it was reported that the Prowler had been used in counter improvised explosive device operations in the conflict in Afghanistan for several years by jamming remote detonation devices such as garage door openers or cellular telephones. Two Prowler squadrons were also based in Iraq, working with the same mission. According to Chuck Pfarrer in his book SEAL Target Geronimo, an EA 6B was also used to jam Pakistani radar and assist the 2 MH 60 Black Hawk stealth helicopters and 2 Chinook helicopters raiding Osama Bin Laden's compound in Operation Neptune Spear. VMAQ 3 began flying Prowler missions against Islamic State militants over Iraq in June 2014. Once Operation Inherent Resolve began in August, VMAQ 4 took over. The Prowlers were the first Marine Corps aircraft in Syria and support strike packages, air drops, and electronic warfare requirements against militants. By January 2015, the five aircraft of VMAQ 4 had flown 800 hours during 110 sorties in support of operations in both countries, including supporting coalition airstrikes and providing EW support for Iraqi Army forces to degrade enemy systems. Marine Prowlers had not dropped munitions themselves and host nations basing them have not been revealed. In April 2016, a squadron of EA 6B Prowlers from Marine Corps Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4 (VMAQ 4), based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, was deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey for operations over Syria. U. S. European Command confirmed that the deployment was expected to last through September 2016. The Center for Strategic and International Studies suggested that the Prowlers may be used to prevent Russian and Syrian air defense systems from tracking U. S. and coalition aircraft. Prowlers of VMAQ 2 completed their last operational deployment to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar in November 2018, and the squadron, the last equipped with the EA 6B, was disbanded on 8 March 2019, with its remaining two Prowlers being disposed of to museums.

The EA 6B Prowler was operated by the U. S. Armed Forces with squadrons in the U. S. Marine Corps and Navy.

VAQ 128: Established as an expeditionary squadron in October 1997, utilizing the insignia and heritage of the former A 6 Intruder Fleet Replacement Squadron at NAS Whidbey Island. Disestablished in September 2004 due to budget reductions. VAQ 309: Established as a Naval Air Reserve Force squadron at NAS Whidbey Island in 1979 with EA 6A aircraft, transitioning to the EA 6B in 1989 as part of Carrier Air Wing Reserve THIRTY (CVWR 30). Disestablished on 31 Dec 1994 following the decommissioning of CVWR 30 due to budget cuts; aircraft returned to the Regular Navy.

While no Prowler has ever been lost in combat, nearly fifty of the 170 built were destroyed in various accidents as of 2013. In 1998, a memorial at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island was dedicated to 44 crew members lost in EA 6B aircraft accidents. On 26 May 1981, a USMC EA 6B crashed onto the flight deck of Nimitz and caused a fire, killing 14 crewmen and injuring 45 others. The Prowler was running out of fuel after a missed approach ("bolter" in Navy parlance), and its crash and the subsequent fire and explosions destroyed or damaged 19 other aircraft. On 3 November 1992 a US Navy EA 6B Prowler (161776,P99 First lCAP ll) from VAQ 129 crashed after takeoff outside of Naval Air Facility, El Centro killing all three crew members aboard; Crew included Capt. Peter Limoge (USMC), LT. Charles Gurley (USN), LT. Dave Roberts (USN). Los Angeles Times 11/5/1992
In August 1996, an EA 6B crashed during low level training, killing all four Marines aboard; pilot, Capt. Gregory O. Glaeser, Capt. Brian F. Hussey, Lt. Col. Joseph E. Connell II, and Maj. John S. Bacheller. Connell was the squadron skipper of VMAQ 1. On 3 February 1998, a USMC EA 6B Prowler, BuNo 163045, from VMAQ 2 struck the cables of a cablecar system in Cavalese, Italy. The crew broke rules to fly low at high speed in mountainous terrain, cut the cables and caused the death of 20 people. The aircraft also suffered severe damage to its vertical stabiliser and wings as a result of striking the cable, but was landed successfully at Aviano Air Base. On 8 November 1998, a USN EA 6B landed on a Lockheed S 3 Viking during night landing qualifications on Enterprise; four crew members were killed. On 11 March 2013, a USN EA 6B of Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ 129 in Washington State, crashed during a training exercise. LTJG Valerie Cappelaere Delaney (Pilot), LTJG William Brown McIlvaine III (Flight Officer), and LCDR Alan A. Patterson (Instructor and Flight Officer) were killed. A year later, an investigation determined that the Prowler experienced a controlled flight into terrain that was due to pilot error.

EA 6A: Two early production A 6As converted to EA 6As as prototypes. Total of 25 EA 6As were built, including 10 conversions of A 6As and 15 production EA 6As. EA 6B: Three A 6As converted as initial prototypes. Total of 170 EA 6Bs were built.

160786 – EA 6B on static display at Naval Air Facility Atsugi in Yamato, Kanagawa.