The EA-6B "Prowler" is a carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft developed by the American company Grumman, whose main task is to jam the enemy's radar and communication systems, protect the fleet's surface ships and other combat aircraft. In 1995, after the US military's EF-111 "Raven" electronic warfare aircraft were retired, the EA-6B became the only electronic warfare aircraft of the US Department of Defense. The EA-6B supported Navy and Air Force aircraft during the 1986 U.S. air raid on Libya's Operation Golden Canyon.
On May 25, 1968, the EA-6B made its first test flight. In January 1971, it began to equip the US Navy, which is still in production. Although the EA-6B entered service in the early 70s of the 20th century, it has undergone several improvements and is still the most advanced carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft in the United States (and in the world).
The U.S. Navy in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the U.S. Navy Summary Report on Gulf Operations by the U.S. Department of the Navy and the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (COSA) said of the EA-6B:
"The key to the success of all air raid operations is the role played by electronic warfare aircraft, aircraft that 'jammed' or 'suppress the enemy's air defense'. When conducting air raid operations, the U.S. military first uses the Navy's EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft to determine the location of the threat, and then sends out jamming to destroy enemy radars. This naval aircraft that 'suppresses the enemy's air defenses' provides support to all US and multinational force aircraft. In fact, in many cases, the use of EA-6B electronic warfare aircraft directly determines the ability to carry out attack missions. If the suppression of the enemy's air defense is ineffective, the attack mission will not be carried out. ”
What are the characteristics of the EA-6B, and how does it carry out electronic jamming during combat?
The EA-6B aircraft was conceived and designed from the very beginning as a specialized aircraft for electronic warfare. As a specialized aircraft for electronic warfare, the EA-6B has no armament. In order to operate more electronic warfare equipment, the EA-6B has a crew of 4, two more than the EA-6A, so the fuselage of this type is 1.37 meters longer, the nose diameter is 1.02 meters larger, and the layout of two two-seat cockpits in the front and rear is adopted. The main electronic warfare equipment of the EA-6B is loaded in the external electronic pod, in order to have enough power to carry the external load, the aircraft uses two J52-P-408 axial flow turbojet engines, with a single thrust of about 5082 kg, which is 865 kg more than the EA-6A, and maintains good maneuverability. It is also equipped with an improved lateral stability enhancement system to reduce the roll inertia that is increased by the external load, which can cause adverse yaw when the aircraft is flying in a roll maneuver.
The EA-6B's electronic warfare equipment adopts the design of an integrated receiving system, which is characterized by the ability to control electronic jamming devices and the jamming equipment of its own defense, that is, its own electronic jamming devices are sensitive to the opponent's radar and radio signals, but not sensitive to the opponent's jamming signals, and can simultaneously monitor the tactical jamming devices.
The division of labor among the four crew members on the EA-6B is as follows: the pilot in the left seat of the front cabin is responsible for selecting the modulation technology to interfere with the opponent's radar system, the navigator in the right seat of the front cabin is responsible for the use of self-defense electronic warfare equipment and the delivery of metal chaff, and the two electronic warfare officers in the rear cabin are responsible for operating the tactical clutter jamming system and the communication jamming aircraft.
In July 1971, the 132nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron of the U.S. Naval Air Force was the first to have the combat capability to use the EA-6B, and its main combat mission was to interfere with the opponent's radar and radio communication facilities with sensitive receivers and high-power jammers and other electronic equipment, so that they could not work normally, so as to achieve the purpose of covering their own targets.
There are two tactics commonly used by the EA-6B: one is escort jamming (also known as concomitant jamming) and the other is long-range jamming. When carrying out escort jamming, the EA-6B directly joins the assault aircraft group formation, breaks away from the formation before the attack begins, maintains continuous interference with the ground-to-air missile guidance radar and antiaircraft artillery aiming radar, and suppresses the opponent's air defense command system in the vicinity of the battlefield. After the attack, EA-6B returned to its position in formation. This tactic is suitable for attacking combat operations in which the anti-aircraft fire is weak, and the assault aircraft group easily enters the target area.
When conducting long-range jamming, EA-6B arrives at the predetermined activity area 5~10 minutes in advance in the same direction as entering the target area. The activity zone is chosen to be outside the range of the opponent's surface-to-air missiles and antiaircraft artillery, and the distance from the attacked target is 48~80 km. The EA-6B flies in a round-trip or elliptical route in the activity area, conducts uninterrupted interference with the opponent's fire control radar and command and communication system, and provides a "protective corridor" for its assault aircraft group to the attacked target to support its operations. This tactic is mostly used to attack targets with strong anti-aircraft firepower.
The EA-6B is usually used in conjunction with the E-2C carrier-based AWACS aircraft, which can provide electronic warfare protection for tactical fighters and surface ships in addition to supporting air assault operations.