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Grumman
EA-6B Prowler
Electronic Countermeasures
DESCRIPTION:
The original EA-6A Intruder variant was developed from the A-6A attack aircraft to meet a
US Marine Corps requirement for an EF-10B Skyknight replacement. A total of 27 were
built or converted from other airframes and formed into three squadrons to perform
electronic warfare (EW) and gather electronic intelligence. These aircraft were quickly
employed in Vietnam to support strike aircraft and collect reconnaissance on North
Vietnamese electronic systems. In comparison with the basic A-6A airframe, the EA-6A
was equipped with signals surveillance and recording systems, noise jammers, and a
bulbous fairing atop the vertical tail housing EW antennas. The EA-6A also retained a
limited attack capability that was rarely used. However, the aircraft was primarily an
interim type that was withdrawn from service in the late 1970s when the Marines received
the newer EA-6B. A few remained in use with the US Navy into the early 1990s as
electronic agressor training aircraft.

A significant improvement in EW capabilities came with the development of the EA-6B,

renamed the Prowler in 1972. While the earlier EA-6A had retained the same airframe as
the A-6, the EA-6B is a fundamentally new design mating the original A-6 wing to a
lengthened fuselage. This fuselage extension provides room for two additional crew
members who sit in a second cockpit and operate the advanced AN/ALQ-99 TJS (Tactical
Jamming System). Located in the forward cockpit are the pilot and an additional ECM
officer who is responsible for navigation, communications, and defensive electronic
countermeasures.

The primary capabilities of the EA-6B are provided by the TJS. This system is capable of
detecting, sorting, classifying, and dealing with a broad spectrum of frequency bands. The
TJS can be operated in automatic, semi-automatic, or manual modes using numerous
antennas around the plane to detect electronic emissions. Up to five external pods carried
under the wing and fuselage also generate jamming signals to degrade enemy radar.
Though the first production aircraft were limited to four frequency bands, constant
upgrades have followed and steadily improved the capabilities of the TJS. The principal
EA-6B upgrades are EXCAP (Expanded Capability), ICAP (Improved Capability), ICAP-2,
and ADVCAP (Advanced Capability).

Production of the EA-6B ceased in 1991 after the completion of some 170 aircraft.
However, the extensive use of these aircraft over the former Yugoslavia, the Persian Gulf,
and Afghanistan has taken a heavy toll. A series of structural and supportability upgrades
are planned to keep the remaining EA-6B fleet in service through at least 2010. Older
models are also being upgraded to the latest standards through a conversion in lieu of
procurement policy institutued by the Navy. These upgrades will continue through 2010
when the new EA-18G is due to enter service with the Navy. The EA-18G is an EW
platform derived from the two-seat F-18F Super Hornet.
The US Air Force has also made extensive use of the EA-6B following the retirement of its
EF-111 Raven fleet in 1996. Currently, Air Force crews are trained to operate a Navy EA-
6B squadron and provide EW support for USAF missions. The Air Force eventually plans
to replace these EA-6B aircraft with a mix of EB-52s, EB-1s, or unmanned aerial vehicles.

Last modified 30 March 2006

HISTORY:
First Flight (EA-6A) 1963
(EA-6B) 25 May 1968
(EA-6B ICAP-2) June 1980
(EA-6B ADVCAP) 29 October 1990
(EA-6B VEP) 15 June 1992
Service Entry July 1971

CREW: (EA-6A) two: pilot, systems officer

(EA-6B) four: pilot, three electronic countermeasures officers

ESTIMATED
$52 million
COST:

AIRFOIL
SECTIONS:
Wing Root NACA 64A009 mod
Wing Tip NACA 64A005.9 mod

DIMENSIONS:
Length 59.83 ft (18.24 m)
Wingspan 53.00 ft (16.15 m)
Height 16.25 ft (4.95 m)
Wing Area 528.9 ft2 (49.13 m2)
Canard Area not applicable

WEIGHTS:
Empty 31,570 lb (14,320 kg)
Normal Takeoff 54,460 lb (24,705 kg) with five jammer pods
Max Takeoff 65,000 lb (29,485 kg)
Fuel Capacity internal: 15,425 lb (6,995 kg)
external: 10,025 lb (4,545 kg) in five 400 gal (1,515 L) drop tanks
Max Payload unknown

PROPULSION:
Powerplant (EA-6A) two Pratt & Whitney J52-6 turbojets
(EA-6B) two Pratt & Whitney J52-408 turbojets
Thrust (EA-6A) 17,000 lb (75.62 kN)
(EA-6B) 22,400 lb (99.64 kN)

PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed at altitude: unknown
at sea level: 650 mph (1,045 km/h), Mach 0.86 [clean]
at sea level: 610 mph (980 km/h), Mach 0.80 [with five jammer pods]
cruise speed: 480 mph (775 km/h)
Initial Climb Rate 12,900 ft (3,930 m) / min [clean]
10,030 ft (3,055 m) / min [with five jammer pods]
Service Ceiling 41,200 ft (12,550 m) [clean]
38,000 ft (11,580 m) [clean]
Range typical: 955 nm (1,755 km) [with max payload]
ferry: 2,085 nm (3,860 km)
Endurance unknown
g-Limits +5.5

ARMAMENT:
Gun none
Stations five external hardpoints
seven external hardpoints through the VEP upgrade
Air-to-Air Missile none
Air-to-Surface
up to two AGM-88 HARM
Missile
Bomb none
Other up to five AN/ALQ-99F jamming pods

KNOWN VARIANTS:
YEA-6A EA-6A prototype modified from a YA-6A development airframe; 1
converted
EA-6A Intruder Electronic countermeasures and intelligence gathering platform based
on the A-6A airframe, retained a limited attack capability and developed
for the US Marines; 6 converted (3 YA-6A, 3 A-6A) and 21 built
NEA-6A EA-6A aircraft modified for use in special test roles; 1 converted
EA-6B BASCAP New-build electronic countermeasures aircraft equipped with the ALQ-
99 TJS; this Basic Capability model covered four frequency bands and
carried up to 5 underwing and underfuselage jammer pods; 23 built
EA-6B EXCAP Expanded Capability upgrade with improved equipment and the
updated ALQ-99A TJS covering eight frequency bands; 25 built
EA-6B ICAP-1 Improved Capability upgrade including the addition of new displays,
AN/ALQ-126 multiple-band defensive breakers, updated radar
deception gear, and an automatic landing system; 45 built and 17
BASCAP and EXCAP models converted
EA-6B ICAP-2 Improved Capability 2 upgrade featuring software and display
improvements allowing more accurate identification of hostile emitters,
better power management, and greater reliability and maintainability;
the external pods were also upgraded to generate signals in seven
bands and to jam in two bands simultaneously; 55 ICAP-1 models
converted plus more newly built
EA-6B Upgrade providing communications system improvements and the
ICAP-2/Block 86 ability to fire AGM-88 HARM missiles
EA-6B Upgrade featuring new displays, an improved fire detection and
ICAP-2/Block 89 extinguishing system, and other safety enhancements
 EA-6B Upgrade adding a new instrumented landing system with GPS and
ICAP-2/Block 89A inertial navigation plus communications enhancements
EA-6B ADVCAP Advanced Capability upgrade introducing new jammer transmission
and passive detection capabilities, an improved chaff dispenser, GPS,
and electronically steered antennas
EA-6B Avionics Improvement Program upgrade adding new displays, radar
ADVCAP/Block 91 improvements, jamming suite upgrades, a communications jamming
system, and a digital auto-pilot
EA-6B VEP Vehicle Enhancement Program to incorporate structural and
aerodynamic improvements including the addition of fuselage strakes,
modified flaps, slats, speed brakes, and a fin extension, uprated
engines, and the addition of two additional wing pylons dedicated to
carrying HARM missiles
NEA-6B EA-6B prototypes modified for special test purposes; 2 converted

KNOWN Vietnam War (USN, USMC 1965-1972)

COMBAT Grenada - Operation Urgent Fury (USN, 1983)
RECORD: Libya - Operation El Dorado Canyon (USN, USMC, 1986)
Iraq - Operation Desert Storm (USN, USMC, 1991)
Bosnia - Operation Deliberate Force (USN, 1995)
Kosovo - Operation Allied Force (USN, USMC, 1999)
Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom (USN, USMC, USAF,
2001-present)
Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom (USN, USMC, USAF, 2003-present)

KNOWN United States (US Air Force)

OPERATORS: United States (US Marine Corps)
United States (US Navy)

3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
SOURCES:
 Bishop, Chris, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Weapons: The
Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Weapon Systems from 1945 to the
Present Day. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1999, p. 346.
 Bonds, Ray, ed. The Modern US War Machine: An Encyclopedia of American
Military Equipment and Strategy. NY: Military Press, 1987, p. 182-183.
 Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes &
Noble, 1997, p. 470, Grumman A-6 Intruder/EA-6B Prowler.
 Donald, David and Lake, Jon, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft.
NY: Barnes & Noble, 2000, p. 183-184, Grumman EA-6B Prowler.
 FAS EA-6B site
 Global Security EA-6B site
 Gunston, Bill, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes. NY: Barnes & Noble,
1995, p. 127, Grumman EA-6 Prowler.
 Laur, Timothy M. and Llanso, Steven L. Encyclopedia of Modern U.S. Military
Weapons. NY: Berkley Books, 1995, p. 63-65, Prowler (EA-6B).
 Miller, David, ed. The Illustrated Directory of Modern American Weapons.
London: Salamander Books, 2002, p. 190-193, Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler.
 Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 2nd ed. London: Harper
Collins Publishers, 1999, p. 82, Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler.
 Taylor, Michael. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1996/1997.
London: Brassey's, 1996, p. 192-193, Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler.
 Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000.
London: Brassey's, 1999, p. 171, Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler.
 US Marine Corps EA-6B Fact Sheet

 US Navy EA-6B Fact Sheet