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The Grumman (now Northrop Grumman) EA-6B Prowler is an electronic warfare aircraft that was operated by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Outfitted with advanced avionics and jamming equipment, the Prowler was designed to protect aerial strike forces by jamming enemy radar and communications. It also performed electronic surveillance and gathered electronic intelligence.
Based on Grumman's A-6 Intruder airframe, the EA-6B sports a radome on its vertical stabilizer, an enlarged cockpit for a pilot and three electronic countermeasures officers, and the ability to carry and fire anti-radiation missiles (ARMs). It has gone through multiple upgrades in its four decades of service, and its ability to suppress enemy air defenses remained formidable to the end. Grumman produced a total of 170 Prowlers. Not a single one was ever shot down in combat, but 50 were lost over the years in accidents.
The first Prowler, the EA-6A, emerged in 1963 from Grumman internal studies. The upgraded, four-crew EA-6B entered service in 1971 and, in the mid-1970s, was the only tactical radar jamming platform for all U.S. Armed Forces. Prowler squadrons were based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington and were deployed to carrier air wings as needed. Prowlers served in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm and participated in numerous other combat and support missions.
The Museum's Prowler last saw active service with Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-134 ("Garudas"), which was based at NAS Whidbey Island. It also flew with VAQ-137, VAQ-142, VAQ-129, VAQ-130, and VAQ-131. While with VAQ-131, it operated as NE502 off the USS Ranger during Operation Desert Storm. Following the Navy's decision to replace its Grumman Prowlers with Boeing EA-18G Growlers, the National Naval Aviation Museum offered this Prowler to The Museum of Flight on long-term loan. This EA-6B was officially decommissioned on May 27, 2015, following its final active-duty flight -- to The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington -- where it became the first electronic-warfare aircraft to go on display.
This aircraft is on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola, Florida.
The Grumman (now Northrop Grumman) EA-6B Prowler is an electronic warfare aircraft that was operated by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Outfitted with advanced avionics and jamming equipment, the Prowler was designed to protect aerial strike forces by jamming enemy radar and communications. It also performed electronic surveillance and gathered electronic intelligence.
Based on Grumman's A-6 Intruder airframe, the EA-6B sports a radome on its vertical stabilizer, an enlarged cockpit for a pilot and three electronic countermeasures officers, and the ability to carry and fire anti-radiation missiles (ARMs). It has gone through multiple upgrades in its four decades of service, and its ability to suppress enemy air defenses remained formidable to the end. Grumman produced a total of 170 Prowlers. Not a single one was ever shot down in combat, but 50 were lost over the years in accidents.
The first Prowler, the EA-6A, emerged in 1963 from Grumman internal studies. The upgraded, four-crew EA-6B entered service in 1971 and, in the mid-1970s, was the only tactical radar jamming platform for all U.S. Armed Forces. Prowler squadrons were based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington and were deployed to carrier air wings as needed. Prowlers served in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm and participated in numerous other combat and support missions.
The Museum's Prowler last saw active service with Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-134 ("Garudas"), which was based at NAS Whidbey Island. It also flew with VAQ-137, VAQ-142, VAQ-129, VAQ-130, and VAQ-131. While with VAQ-131, it operated as NE502 off the USS Ranger during Operation Desert Storm. Following the Navy's decision to replace its Grumman Prowlers with Boeing EA-18G Growlers, the National Naval Aviation Museum offered this Prowler to The Museum of Flight on long-term loan. This EA-6B was officially decommissioned on May 27, 2015, following its final active-duty flight -- to The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington -- where it became the first electronic-warfare aircraft to go on display.
This aircraft is on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola, Florida.
