Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler

Wallpaper Description:

The Northrop Grumman (formerly Grumman) EA-6B Prowler is a twin-engine, mid-wing electronic warfare aircraft derived from the A-6 Intruder airframe.

The EA-6A was the initial electronic warfare version of the A-6 used by the United States Marine Corps in the 1960s. Development on the more advanced EA-6B began in 1966.

An EA-6B aircrew consists of one pilot and three Electronic Countermeasures Officers, though it is not uncommon for only two ECMOs to be used on missions.

It is capable of carrying and firing anti-radiation missiles (ARM), such as the AGM-88 HARM missile.

Prowler has been in service with the U.S. Armed Forces since 1971.

It has carried out numerous missions for jamming enemy radar systems, and in gathering radio intelligence on those and other enemy air defence systems.

From the 1998 retirement of the United States Air Force EF-111 Raven electronic warfare aircraft, the EA-6B was the only dedicated electronic warfare plane available for missions by the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, and the United States Air Force until the fielding of the Navy's EA-18G Growler in 2009.

General characteristics

Crew: four (one pilot, 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)
Wing area: 528.9 ft² (49.1 m²)
Empty weight: 31,160 lb (15,130 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 61,500 lb (27,900 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney J52-P408A turbojet, 10,400 lbf (46 kN) each

Performance

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 (tanks dropped) (3,254 km / 3,861 km)
Service ceiling: 37,600 ft (11,500 m)
Rate of climb: 12,900 ft/min (65 m/s)
Wing loading: 116 lb/ft² (560 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 0.34

Armament

Hardpoints: 5 total: 1× centreline/under-fuselage plus 4× under-wing pylon stations with a capacity of 18,000 pounds (8,164.7 kg) and provisions to carry combinations of:
Missiles: Up to 4× AGM-88 HARM Anti-radiation missiles (2x typically carried)

Other:

Up to 5× 300 US gallons (1,100 L) external drop tanks
Up to 5× AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System (TJS) external pods
AN/ALE-43(V)1&4 Bulk Chaff Dispensing System pod
AN/AAQ-28(V) LITENING targeting pod (USMC only)

Avionics

AN/ALQ-218 Tactical Jamming System Receiver
AN/USQ-113 Communications Jamming System