The Grumman EA-6B Prowler is the United States Navy and Marine Corps primary electronic warfare countermeasures aircraft. The Grumman EA-6B Prowler gives US aircraft carrier fleets the ability to detect and jam enemy radar and communications while still retaining the aircraft's ability to attack surface vessels and targets like it' early 1960's A-6 Intruder attack aircraft ancestor. The EA-6B Prowler went into service in 1971 and is only now being replaced by the new Boeing EA-18G Growler, a specially modified F/A-18F Super Hornet air-frame. It is interesting to note hat the rather unusual orange/gold colour of the canopy is the result of a thin gold vapour deposited coating applied to screen the aircraft's crew and equipment from the electro-magnetic fields produced when the aircrafts external jamming equipment is in operation, the inside of the aircraft is effectively inside a faraday cage. Grumman EA-6B Prowler Specifications: - Crew: Pilot and three electronic countermeasures officers
- Length: 59 ft 10 in (17.7 m)
- Wingspan: 53 ft (15.9 m)
- Height: 16 ft 8 in (4.9 m)
- Empty weight: 31,160 lb (15,130 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 61,500 lb 61,500 (27,900 kg)
- Engines: Twin 10,400 lbf (46 kN) Pratt & Whitney J52-P408A turbojets
- Maximum speed: 566 knots (651 mph, 1,050 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 418 kt (481 mph, 774 km/h)
- Range: 2,022 mi (tanks kept) / 2,400 mi (3,254 km / 3,861 km)
- Service ceiling 37,600 ft (11,500 m)
Armament: - Maximum of four AGM-88 HARM antiradar missiles
- Maximum of five ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System under-wing pods
- Maximum of five 300 gallon external drop tanks
Avionics: - ALQ-99 on board receiver (OBS)
- ALQ-99 pod mounted jamming system (TJS)
- USQ-113 communications jamming system
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