Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler

Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler

About the Aircraft

Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler

The Hickory Aviation Museum’s EA-6B Bureau Number 163033 is on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation. It came from MCAS Cherry Point, NC on 14 May 2016, performing a flight demonstration prior to its arrival.

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 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. It was 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 U.S. Marine Corps, and the U.S. Air Force until the fielding of the Navy's EA-18G Growler in 2009. Following its last deployment in late 2014, the EA-6B was withdrawn from U.S. Navy service in June 2015. The USMC Prowlers were retired in 2019.

National origin United States of America
Manufacturer Northrop Grumman
First flight 25-May-68
Introduction Jul-71
Retired Retired
Status Retired, USN 2015; USMC 2019
Primary users United States Navy, United States Marine Corps
Number built 170
Propulsion 2 × Pratt & Whitney J52-P408A turbojet
Unit cost $52M 1998 (Advanced Mod), $30M 1981 (Upgrade Mod), $20M 1973 (Earliest Variant)
Developed Grumman A-6 Intruder/EA-6A
From Electric Intruder
Grumman EA-6B Prowler BuNo 163033

General Characteristics

Characteristics

Crew: 4 (one pilot, three electronic countermeasures officers (ECMOs))
Length: 59 ft 10 in (17.7 m)
Wingspan: 53 ft (15.9 m)
Height: 16 ft 8 in (4.9 m)
Wing area: 528.9 ft² (49.1 m²)
Empty weight: 31,160 lb (15,130 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 61,500 lb (27,900 kg)

Performance

Maximum speed: 566 knots (651 mph)
Cruise speed: 418 kts (481 mph, 774 km/h)
Range: 2,022 mi -2400 mi (tanks kept)
Service ceiling: 37,600 ft (11,500 m)
Hardpoints: 5 total.
Able to carry: Up to 4× AGM-88 HARM Anti-radiation missiles, ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System Pods, Chaff, LITENING targeting pod (USMC only), Fuel.