EA-6B Prowler Fact and Anything you Need to Know. From its first deployments in 1970 during the Vietnam War through the current War on Terror, the EA-6B Prowler has a flawless combat record. To date, not a single one of these aircraft have been lost in combat due to enemy action. From Vietnam through Operation El Dorado Canyon in Libya to the First Gulf War and beyond, the EA-6B’s combat prowess has kept it beyond the reach of enemy weapons in all forms. Few aircraft of this longevity can claim the same thing.
The EA-6B Has A Long History Of Accidents – A USMC Prowler During Refueling
While the EA-6B’s combat record is flawless, its operational history is a complex mix of accidents stemming from various causes. One of the most spectacular accidents occurred in 1981, when a Prowler crashed into the deck of the USS Nimitz, killing 14 crew members and damaging or destroying 20 aircraft.
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EA-6B Prowler Pilots Caused An International Incident – A EA-6B Prowler After Refueling
In 1998, an EA-6B operated by a US Marine Corps crew flew dangerously low while on a training mission in Italy. This incident– the Calavese cable car disaster– caused the President of the United States to issue a formal apology and resulted in the investigation of pilot behavior across the US military.
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The EA-6B Prowler Found A New Role In The War On Terror – EA-6B Prowler on Takeoff in Japane
As an electronic warfare platform, the EA-6B Prowler was intended to jam enemy radar, either block or intercept enemy radio communications, and disrupt enemy weapons systems. However, during the War on Terror the Prowler’s high-tech capability adapted perfectly to lower tech war. By jamming cell phone and garage door frequencies, the Prowler could prevent Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from being detonated remotely. As US troops worked to restore order in Iraq and Afghanistan, this capability saved the lives of both Americans and local civilians. This new and unanticipated mission is a testament to the versatility of this “old” aircraft.
The EA-6B Is The Longest Lasting Tactical Jet – Three Prowlers in Flight
Since its introduction in the Vietnam War, the EA-6B Prowler has been involved in every US conflict thereafter. This makes it the longest lasting tactical jet in USAF history.
The EA-6B Can Fight When Needed – USMC EA-6B Prowler Missile Launch
While its primary mission is electronic warfare– a vital function on any modern battlefield– the EA-6B can tap into its attack aircraft heritage and pack a punch when needed. The most common version of this is the deployment of anti-radiation missions, which target and destroy enemy radar facilities or radar using aircraft. Combined with the EA-6B’s ability to detect and track enemy signals, this makes it an even more versatile tool. By both providing US forces with intelligence while actively hindering the enemy’s ability to detect other aircraft or communicate, the EA-6B fulfills a variety of roles as needed.
” FrankenProwler” Roams The Skies – US Marine Corps EA-6B Prowler on Runway
During the 1990s, the Prowler underwent extensive upgrades and research. As a result of these efforts to improve the capabilities of the aircraft, three existing EA-6Bs were left in various states of disassembly and disrepair. Technicians with the US Navy went to work, cobbling together the three unusable EA-6Bs into one working aircraft.
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The EA-6B Prowler Is Part Of A Group Of Aircraft Known As “Grumman Iron” – A USMC EA-6B Prowler and Crew
Grumman Aerospace Company was responsible for some of the most famed and beloved aircraft flown in the US Armed Forces. They gained a reputation of producing nearly indestructible and highly capable aircraft including both the A-6 Intruder and the EA-6B Prowler.
The Prowler Helped Kill Bin Laden – USMC EA-6B Prowler During Preflight EA-6B Prowler Facts
Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind behind the September 11th attacks in New York and Washington DC, evaded his international manhunt for years. In 2011 fate finally caught up with the terrorist when Operation Neptune Spear was a success, resulting in his death. During the raid on Bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan, a US Navy EA-6B Prowler provided radar jamming that allowed helicopter access to the compound. The rest is history, and a major point of national pride. The EA-6B Prowler played a critical role in making it happen.
All Good Things Come To An End – A USMC EA-6B Prowler Preparing for Its Last Deployment
The EA-6B Prowler has become a minor legend in the world of military aviation, having given outstanding service for decades. Even this story must come to an end, and the EA-6B’s days as an active duty aircraft are numbered.
