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Key
Features
- The EA-6B
Prowler is the U.S. Navy’s tactical jamming aircraft. It
joined the fleet in January 1971 and has gone through four major
upgrades. Updates to the EA-6B systems have kept the Prowler
prepared for dynamic threats and expanding mission roles.
- The primary mission
of the EA-6B Prowler is to conduct Command and Control Warfare
(C2W) in support of U.S. and Coalition forces by locating and
jamming enemy radars and communications. It can also fire HARM
missiles to destroy detected radar sites. The secondary mission
includes electronic surveillance.
- The Prowler’s
initial deployment was in 1972 in Southeast Asia, where it
encountered the world’s first true “electronic battlefield.” It
also saw combat in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, has supported
NATO peacekeeping operations over Bosnia-Herzegovina, has enforced
the “no-fly” zones around Iraq and has acted as part of NATO
operations over Yugoslavia.
- In 1994 the
Secretary of Defense selected the Prowler to become the sole
tactical radar support jammer for all of the armed services. Eight
expeditionary squadrons are now available to the
Commanders-in-Chief, four Navy squadrons with U.S. Air Force
aircrews and four U.S. Marine Corps squadrons.
- In the 1990’s
Congress and the DoD recognized that the effectiveness of the
EA-6B needed to be addressed, and they established an Increased
Capability (ICAP-III) warfighting improvements initiative for the
aircraft. Its principal objective is to provide real-time reactive
jamming responses to counter modern radars. The ICAP-III version
of the Prowler can also provide continuous real-time precision
location of enemy systems to other platforms through
connectivity.
Northrop
Grumman's Role
Grumman was the original prime contractor
for the EA-6B. Northrop Grumman performs engineering work on
Prowlers at its Bethpage, NY, facility, where the EA-6B program is
headquartered. The U.S. Navy has chosen Northrop Grumman to perform
Standard Depot Level Maintenance (SLDM) as well as other upgrade
modifications for the Prowler.
Acquisition
Agency
Naval Air Systems Command, Washington, DC
User
All U.S.
Armed Forces
Status
EA-6B modification efforts are being conducted at Northrop
Grumman's Integrated Systems' Airborne Early Warning &
Electronic Warfare business area in St. Augustine, FL. This facility
is also building and installing new wing center sections for 20
EA-6B Prowlers.
Northrop Grumman was awarded a contract for initial development
work on the ICAP-III upgrade to the EA-6B in March 1998. The
Preliminary Design Review was conducted in October 1999. The first
test aircraft was inducted by the company in the fall of 2000. A
second test aircraft made its first flight in 2001. Initial
operational capability (IOC) of ICAP-III for the fleet is slated for
2005.
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