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Grumman EA-6B Prowler

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EA-6B Prowler
Grumman EA-6B Prowler in flight
General information
TypeElectronic warfare/Attack aircraft
ManufacturerGrumman
Northrop Grumman
StatusRetired[1]
Primary usersUnited States Navy(historical)
Number built170
History
Manufactured1966-1991
Introduction dateJuly 1971
First flight25 May 1968[2]
Retired2015 (USN)
March 2019 (USMC)
Developed fromGrumman A-6 Intruder

TheNorthrop Grumman(formerlyGrumman)EA-6B Prowleris atwin-engine,four-seat, mid-wingelectronic-warfare aircraftderived from theA-6 Intruderairframe. TheEA-6Awas the initialelectronic warfareversion of the A-6 used by theUnited States Marine CorpsandUnited States Navy;it was used during theVietnam War.Development on the more advanced EA-6B began in 1966. An EA-6B aircrew consisted of one pilot and threeElectronic Countermeasures Officers,[3]though it was not uncommon for only two ECMOs to be used on missions. It was capable of carrying and firinganti-radiation missiles(ARMs), such as theAGM-88 HARM.[4]

The Prowler was in service with theU.S. Armed Forcesfrom 1971 until 2019. It carried out numerous missions for jamming enemyradar systems,and in gathering radio intelligence on those and other enemyair defense systems.Following its last deployment in late 2014, the EA-6B was withdrawn from U.S. Navy service in June 2015, followed by the USMC in March 2019.

Development

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Origins

[edit]

The EA-6A "Electric Intruder" was developed for theU.S. Marine Corpsduring the 1960s to replace itsEF-10B SkyknightsandAD Skyraidersin theElectronic countermeasure(ECM) role.[4]The EA-6A was a direct conversion of the standardA-6 Intruderairframe, with two seats, equipped withelectronic warfare(EW) equipment. The EA-6A first entered service in Marine Corps squadrons in December 1965, and saw action inOperation Rolling Thunder;[4]it was used by three Marine Corpssquadronsduring theVietnam War.A total of 27 EA-6As were produced, 15 of which were newly manufactured.[5]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.[6]The EA-6A was essentially an interimwarplaneuntil the more-advanced EA-6B could be designed and built.

The two-seat EA-6A (top) was followed by the four-seat EA-6B Prowler (bottom)

The substantially redesigned and more advanced EA-6B was developed beginning in 1966 as a replacement forEKA-3B Skywarriorsfor 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 itsvertical stabilizer.[5]Grumman was awarded a $12.7 million contract to develop an EA-6B prototype on 14 November 1966.[7]The Prowler first flew on 25 May 1968, and it entered service onaircraft carriersin July 1971.[8]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.[6]

The EA-6B Prowler was powered by twoPratt & Whitney J52turbojet engines,and it was capable of high subsonic speeds. Due to its extensive electronic warfare operations, and the aircraft's age (produced until 1991), the EA-6B was a high-maintenance aircraft, and had undergone many frequent equipment upgrades. Although designed as an electronic warfare and command-and-control aircraft forair strikemissions, the EA-6B was also capable of attacking some surface targets on its own, in particular enemyradarsites andsurface-to-air missilelaunchers. In addition, the EA-6B was capable of gatheringelectronic signals intelligence.

The EA-6B Prowler was continually upgraded over the years. The first such upgrade was named "expanded capability" (EXCAP) beginning in 1973. Then came "improved capability" (ICAP) in 1976 and ICAP II in 1980. The ICAP II upgrade provided the EA-6B with the capability of firingShrike missilesandAGM-88 HARMmissiles.[6]

Advanced Capability EA-6B

[edit]
EA-6B ADVCAP

TheAdvanced Capability EA-6B Prowler (ADVCAP)was a development program initiated to improve the flying qualities of the EA-6B and to upgrade theavionicsandelectronic warfaresystems. The intention was to modify all EA-6Bs into the ADVCAP configuration, however the program was removed from the Fiscal Year 1995 budget due to financial pressure from competingDepartment of Defenseacquisition programs.

The ADVCAP development program was initiated in the late 1980s and was broken into three distinct phases: Full-Scale Development (FSD), Vehicle Enhancement Program (VEP) and the Avionics Improvement Program (AIP).

FSD served primarily to evaluate the new AN/ALQ-149 Electronic Warfare System. The program utilized a slightly modified EA-6B to house the new system.

The VEP added numerous changes to the aircraft to address deficiencies with the original EA-6B flying qualities, particularly lateral-directional problems that hampered recovery from out-of-control flight. Bureau Number 158542 was used. Changes included:

  • Leading edgestrakes(to improve directional stability)
  • Fin pod extension (to improve directional stability)
  • Ailerons(to improve slow speed lateral control)
  • Re-contoured leading edge slats and trailing edge flaps (to compensate for an increase in gross weight)
  • Two additional wing stations on the outer wing panel (forjamming podsonly)
  • New J52-P-409 engines (increased thrust by 2,000 lbf (8.9 kN) per engine)
  • New digital Standard Automatic Flight Control System (SAFCS)

The added modifications increased the aircraft gross weight approximately 2,000 lb (910 kg) and shifted the center of gravity 3% MAC aft of the baseline EA-6B. In previous models, when operating at sustained highangles of attack,fuel migration would cause additional shifts in CG with the result that the aircraft had slightly negative longitudinal static stability. Results of flight tests of the new configuration showed greatly improved flying qualities and the rearward shift of the CG had minimal impact.

"FrankenProwler" during a pre-flight inspection atAl Asad Air Base,Iraq

The AIP prototype (bureau number 158547) represented the final ADVCAP configuration, incorporating all of the FSD and VEP modifications plus a completely new avionics suite which added multi-function displays to all crew positions, ahead-up displayfor the pilot, and dualGlobal Positioning/Inertial navigation systems.The initial joint test phase between the contractor and the US Navy test pilots completed successfully with few deficiencies.

After the program was canceled, the three experimental Prowlers, BuNo 156482, 158542 and 158547, were mothballed until 1999. Over the next several years, the three aircraft were dismantled and reassembled to create a single aircraft, b/n 158542, which the Navy dubbed "FrankenProwler". It was returned to active service on 23 March 2005.[9]

Improved Capability (ICAP) III

[edit]

Northrop Grummanreceived 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-reactiveradar jamming and deceptionand threat location. The ICAP III sets also are equipped with the Multifunction Information Distribution System (MIDS), which includes theLink 16data link system. Northrop delivered two lots and delivered two more beginning in 2010.[10]The EA-6B Prowlers in service toward the end of its life were the ICAP III version, carrying the ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System.

Design

[edit]

Designed forcarrier-basedand advanced base operations, the EA-6B was a fully integratedelectronic warfaresystem combining long-range, all-weather capabilities with advancedelectronic countermeasures.[11]A forward equipment bay and pod-shaped fairing on the vertical fin housed the additional avionics equipment. It was the primary electronic warfare aircraft for the U.S Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The EA-6B's primary mission was to support ground-attack strikes by disrupting enemyelectromagneticactivity. As a secondary mission it could also gather tacticalelectronic intelligencewithin a combat zone, and another secondary mission was attacking enemy radar sites with anti-radiation missiles.

The Prowler had a crew of four, a pilot and threeElectronic Countermeasures Officers(known as ECMOs).[3]The two ECMOs in the rear cockpit operated the Prowler's primary jamming equipment, while the ECMO in the front right seat handled navigation, communications, and defensive electronic countermeasures.[12]Powered by two non-afterburningPratt & Whitney J52-P-408Aturbojetengines, it was capable of speeds of over 500 knots (580 mph; 930 km/h), with a range of over 1,000 nautical miles (1,200 miles; 1,900 kilometres).[13][14]

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.

Operational history

[edit]
VAQ-131 was the second squadron to deploy to Vietnam, in September 1972.

The EA-6B entered service with Fleet Replacement SquadronVAQ-129in 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 onAmerica11 months later, soon followed by VAQ-131 onEnterpriseand VAQ-134 onConstellation.[15]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.[citation needed]

During the 1983invasion of Grenada,four Prowlers supported the operation fromUSSIndependence(CV-62).[16]

Following theAchille Lauro hijacking,on 10 October 1985 Prowlers fromUSSSaratoga(CV-60)provided ESM support during the interception of the EgyptAir 737 carrying four of the hijackers.[17]

Prowlers jammed Libyan radar duringOperation El Dorado Canyonin April 1986. Prowlers from VAQ-135 onUSSEnterprise(CVN-65)jammed Iranian Ground Control Intercept radars, surface-to-air missile guidance radars and communication systems duringOperation Praying Mantison 18 April 1988.[17]

A total of 39 EA-6B Prowlers were involved inOperation Desert Stormin 1991 with 27 from six aircraft carriers and 12 from USMC bases. During 4,600 flight hours, Prowlers fired over 150AGM-88 HARMmissiles. Navy Prowlers flew 1,132 sorties and USMC flew 516 with no losses.[17]

With the retirement of theEF-111 Ravenin 1998, the EA-6B was the only dedicated aerial radar jammer aircraft of theU.S. Armed Forces,until the fielding of the Navy'sEA-18G Growlerin 2009. The EA-6B was flown in almost all American combat operations from 1972 until its retirement in 2019, and was frequently flown in support of the U.S. Air Force missions.

EA-6B takes off fromEielson AFB.Note thegoldtint of the canopy for protection fromelectromagnetic interferenceand prevents some EM emissions

In 2001, 124 Prowlers remained, divided between twelve Navy, four Marine, and four joint Navy-Air Force "Expeditionary" squadrons. AJoint Chiefs of Staff(JCS) staff study recommended that the EF-111 Raven be retired to reduce the types of aircraft dedicated to the same mission, which led to anOffice of the Secretary of Defense(OSD) program memorandum to establish 4 land based "expeditionary" Prowler squadrons to meet the needs of the Air Force.[18]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 the366th Operations GroupatMountain Home AFB,Idaho.[19]

Though once considered being replaced byCommon Support Aircraft,that plan failed to materialize. In 2009, the Navy EA-6B Prowler community began transitioning to theEA-18G Growler,a newelectronic warfarederivative of theF/A-18F Super Hornet.All but one of the active duty Navy EA-6B squadrons were based atNaval Air Station Whidbey Island.VAQ-136 was stationed atNaval Air Facility Atsugi,Japan, as part ofCarrier Air Wing 5,the forward deployed naval forces (FDNF) air wing that embarks aboard the Japan-basedGeorge Washington.VAQ-209, theNavy Reserve's sole EA-6B squadron, was stationed atNaval Air Facility Washington,Maryland. All Marine Corps EA-6B squadrons were located atMarine 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 March 2019.[20][21]The last Navy deployment was onGeorge H.W. Bushin November 2014, with VAQ-134.[22][23]The last Navy operational flight took place on 27 May 2015.[24]NAS Whidbey held a retirement commemoration for the EA-6B from 25 to 27 June 2015 of the EA-6B[25][dead link]culminating on the last day with the Navy's last operational EA-6B Prowler, bureau number 163890, taking off from NAS Whidbey Island.[26]

Operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria

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An EA-6B Prowler lands on the flight deck of the aircraft carrierUSS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77).

In 2007, it was reported that the Prowler had been used in counterimprovised explosive deviceoperations in theconflict in Afghanistanfor several years by jamming remote detonation devices such as garage door openers or cellular telephones.[27]Two Prowler squadrons were also based in Iraq, working with the same mission.[28]According toChuck Pfarrerin his bookSEAL Target Geronimo,an EA-6B was also used to jam Pakistani radar and assist the 2MH-60 Black Hawkstealth helicopters and 2 Chinook helicopters raiding Osama Bin Laden's compound inOperation Neptune Spear.[29]

USMC-100729-M-0381B-008

VMAQ-3began flying Prowler missions againstIslamic State militantsover Iraq in June 2014. OnceOperation Inherent Resolvebegan in August,VMAQ-4took 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 supportingcoalition airstrikesand providing EW support forIraqi Armyforces to degrade enemy systems. Marine Prowlers had not dropped munitions themselves and host nations basing them have not been revealed.[30]

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 toIncirlik Air Base,Turkey for operations over Syria. U.S. European Command confirmed that the deployment was expected to last through September 2016. TheCenter for Strategic and International Studiessuggested that the Prowlers may be used to prevent Russian and Syrian air defense systems from tracking U.S. and coalition aircraft.[31]

Prowlers ofVMAQ-2completed their last operational deployment toAl Udeid Air Base,Qatarin November 2018, and the squadron, the last equipped with the EA-6B, was disbanded on 8 March 2019, with its remaining two Prowlers being reallocated to museums.[32]

The Marine Corps' four members of VAMQ-2 flew the last EA-6B on its final flight on 14 March 2019 from their station atCherry Point,North Carolina, to theSteven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.[33]

Operators

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An EA-6B Prowler from VAQ-138 carrying two wing mounted jamming pods.

The EA-6B Prowler was operated by the U.S. Armed Forces with squadrons in theU.S. Marine CorpsandNavy.

USMC squadrons

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VMAQ squadrons operated the EA-6B Prowler.[34]Each of the three squadrons operated five aircraft; the squadrons were land-based, although they were capable of operating aboard U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and did so in the past.[35][36]

In 2013, VMAQ-1 converted from an active to a training squadron as the USN stopped training on the Prowler and switched over to the Growler. The Marine Training squadron first received students for training in October 2013 and produced its first training flights in April 2014.[37]

Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Dates operated Senior Command Station
Banshees
1992–2016
Playboys
1977-2019
MCAS Cherry Point, NC[39]
Moon Dogs
1992–2018
MCAS Cherry Point, NC[40]
Seahawks
1981–2017
MCAS Cherry Point, NC[41]

In 2008, the USMC investigated an electronic attack role for theLockheed Martin F-35 Lightning IIto replace their Prowlers.[42]The Marines began retiring the EA-6 in 2016 and replaced them with the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Electronic Warfare (MAGTF-EW) concept, which calls for a medium to high-altitude long-enduranceunmanned aerial vehicleto off-load at least some of the electronic warfare mission.[43]

In November 2018, VMAQ-2 returned from performing the final deployed operations of USMC Prowlers. The Marines retired the aircraft on 8 March 2019, with some placed in storage and on static display at theSmithsonian InstitutionSteven F. Udvar-Hazy Centerof theNational Air and Space MuseuminChantilly, Virginiaand theFrontiers of Flight MuseumatDallas Love Field.[44][45]

USN squadrons

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While in U.S. Navy service four EA-6B Prowlers were typically assigned to a Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron. These Navy Electronic Attack squadrons carried the letters VAQ (V-fixed wing, A-attack, Q-electronic); most of these squadrons werecarrier-based, while others were "expeditionary" and deployed to overseas land bases.[11]

Squadron Name Insignia Nickname Dates Operated Carrier air wing Station Notes
VAQ-129 Vikings 1971–2015 Fleet Replacement Squadron NAS Whidbey Island[46] Trained both Marine, Air Force, and Navy crews
in the EA-6B and theEA-18G
VAQ-130 Zappers 1975–2011 CVW-3 NAS Whidbey Island[47] EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
VAQ-131 Lancers 1971–2015 CVW-2 NAS Whidbey Island[48] EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
VAQ-132 Scorpions 1971–2009 CVW-17 NAS Whidbey Island[49] EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
VAQ-133 Wizards 1971–2014 CVW-9 NAS Whidbey Island[50] EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
VAQ-134 Garudas 1972–2015 CVW-8 NAS Whidbey Island[51] EA-6B replaced by EA-18G.[52]
VAQ-135 Black Ravens 1973–2010 NAS Whidbey Island[53] EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
VAQ-136 Gauntlets 1973–2012 NAS Whidbey Island[54] EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
VAQ-137 Rooks 1973–2012 CVW-1 NAS Whidbey Island[55] EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
VAQ-138 Yellow Jackets 1976–2009 N/A[56] EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
VAQ-139 Cougars 1983–2011 CVW-17 NAS Whidbey Island[57] EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
VAQ-140 Patriots 1985–2014 CVW-7 NAS Whidbey Island[58] EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
VAQ-141 Shadowhawks 1987–2009 CVW-5 Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi[59] EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
VAQ-142 Gray Wolves 1997–2015 CVW-11 NAS Whidbey Island[60] EA-6B replaced by EA-18G
VAQ-209 Star Warriors 1977–2013 ReserveTactical Support Wing NAS Whidbey Island EA-6B replaced by EA-18G

Disestablished Squadrons

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VAQ-128:Established as an expeditionary squadron in October 1997, utilizing the insignia and heritage of the formerA-6 IntruderFleet 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.

Notable accidents

[edit]

While no Prowler has ever been lost in combat, nearly fifty of the 170 built were destroyed in various accidents as of 2013.[61]In 1998, a memorial atNaval Air Station Whidbey Islandwas dedicated to 44 crew members lost in EA-6B aircraft accidents.[62]

  • On 26 May 1981, a USMC EA-6B crashed onto the flight deck ofNimitzand caused a fire, killing 14 crewmen and injuring 45 others.[63][64]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.[65][66]
  • 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[full citation needed]
  • On 3 February 1998, a USMC EA-6B Prowler, BuNo 163045, fromVMAQ-2struck the cables of a cablecar systeminCavalese,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 atAviano Air Base.[67][68]
  • On 8 November 1998, a USN EA-6B landed on aLockheed S-3 Vikingduring night landing qualifications onEnterprise;four crew members were killed.[69][70]
  • 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.[71]A year later, an investigation determined that the Prowler experienced acontrolled flight into terrainthat was due to pilot error.[72]

Variants

[edit]
  • 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.[73]
  • EA-6B:Three A-6As converted as initial prototypes. Total of 170 EA-6Bs were built.[73]

Aircraft on display

[edit]

Japan

[edit]

United States

[edit]
An EA-6B on display at the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum
An EA-6B Prowler on display at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City

Specifications (EA-6B)

[edit]
3-view line drawing of the Grumman EA-6B Prowler
3-view line drawing of the Grumman EA-6B Prowler
Two EA-6B Prowlers overTurkeyflying in support ofOperation Northern Watch,2002.
An EA-6B of VAQ-140 "Patriots" patrols the skies overBosnia and Herzegovina,1995.

Data fromUS Navy Fact File,[11]US Navy history page[35]

General characteristics

  • Crew:4 (one pilot, three electronic countermeasures officers)
  • Length:59 ft 10 in (18.24 m)
  • Wingspan:53 ft (16 m)
  • Height:16 ft 8 in (5.08 m)
  • Wing area:528.9 sq ft (49.14 m2)
  • Empty weight:31,160 lb (14,134 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight:61,500 lb (27,896 kg)
  • Powerplant:2 ×Pratt & Whitney J52-P-408Aturbojetengines, 10,400 lbf (46 kN) thrust each

Performance

  • Maximum speed:566 kn (651 mph, 1,048 km/h)
  • Cruise speed:418 kn (481 mph, 774 km/h)
  • Range:2,022 nmi (2,327 mi, 3,745 km) (tanks kept)
2,400 mi (2,100 nmi; 3,900 km) (tanks dropped)
  • Service ceiling:37,600 ft (11,500 m)
  • Rate of climb:12,900 ft/min (66 m/s)
  • Wing loading:116 lb/sq ft (570 kg/m2)
  • Thrust/weight:0.34

Armament

  • Hardpoints:5 total: 1× centerline/under-fuselage plus 4× under-wing pylon stations with a capacity of 18,000pounds(8,200kg), with provisions to carry combinations of:

Avionics

  • AN/ALQ-218Tactical Jamming System Receiver
  • AN/USQ-113 Communications Jamming System

See also

[edit]

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
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  2. ^"EA-6B Prowler".Warfighters Encyclopedia.Naval Air Systems Command.Archived fromthe originalon 5 November 2004.
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  4. ^abcd"EA-6B Prowler".Naval History and Heritage Command - National Naval Aviation Museum.Retrieved5 April2024.
  5. ^abFrawley, Gerald (2002). "Grumman EA-6B Prowler".The International Directory of Military Aircraft, 2002/2003.Aerospace Publications.ISBN1-875671-55-2.
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Bibliography

[edit]
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