EA-6B Prowler: The Sky Pig Aircraft That You Have Never Seen

The EA-6B Prowler is the primary tactical jamming aircraft of the US Navy, US Air Force and the US Marine Corps. Outfitted with advanced avionics and jamming equipment, the Prowler was designed to protect aerial strike forces by jamming enemy radar and communications. It also performed electronic surveillance and gathered electronic intelligence.

The Prowler is armed with the Raytheon HARM high-speed anti-radiation missile, AGM-88. The HARM missile is used against land-based and seaborne radar-directed air defence artillery systems and surface-to-air missile systems.

The aircraft has two Pratt & Whitney J-52 -P-408 turbojet engines each rated at 50kN. The aircraft carries a maximum internal fuel supply of 7,000kg and can also carry an extra 4,500kg externally in fuel pods.

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[dereckkorman]

My sister flew this plane and did two tours in it. Her husband also flew this plane. Now he works with the growler since this one is retired.

[justme]

This was a great plane. Worked on it on my first sea tour and didn't know how good I had it, not once did we crack open a fuel cell. Went from the Prowler to the Hornet in the mid 80"s and it seemed like every two or three months we had to open up a fuel cell. On the beach it wasn't so bad but at sea it was such a pain in the ass.

[MegaGman]

I was a PH in the Navy in the early eighties stationed on the Carl Vinson. One of our jobs was manning the PLAT camera. The EA6 and the A6 were the planes we dreaded the most. Their engines just screamed so loudly that it was actually painful even with double ear protection!

[melvance]

That aircraft is a major part of why I live where I do. My father worked on them for a large part of his navy career. Been at Nas Whidbey since '69. He retired in '80. Miss him

[thomascarmichael]

I was in A-6’s while I was in the Navy. My first tour I was a plane captain in VA-65. During that time I qualified as a PC as I managed to accumulate 5 Daily and 5 Turnaround inspections on visiting EA-6B’s. I made rate as a Aviation Machinist Mate and during my shore duty time (33 months) I became qualified on the J-52 p8b and the J -52 p408 engines. Couldn’t beat that P-408. I was in VF-43 during that time. Got to run the engine during low power turn ups. Lots of fun!!!!

[imarichmultimillionaire]

Had a great friend that flew the A6.
I was 14 when he got his wings at Chase Field around 1974. Great guy he went on to fly for Southwest

[rickramsey]

I was a AMS-1 and severed from 1978 thru 1983. VAQ-129, VAQ-133 and then VA-128 and Va-0689 as a plank owner. Two med deployments. John F Kennedy and Forestall. Very good times. Loved working on the EA-6B and A6. All my sea time was with VAQ-133 and the EA-6B.

[mikecannon]

I saw it every day on the flight deck of the USS America (CV66). I always loved the gold tinted canopy.

[PINION]

Oh I seen this plane all time growing up! I grew up on Whidbey Island, home of the A6 and the EA6B. I can still hear the roar of those engines in my head from time to time all these years later!
These planes were iconic in the navy fleet for sure!

[josemanuelfernandezpulido]

It was the main electronic jamming plane. It was replaced (2009) by the EA 18G-GROWLER, based on the F18 Super Hornet.

[ShortbusDevil]

My dad was a plane captain for A-6 Intruders on the Connie CV-64, glad to see them still flying even though the Connie has been broken down in Brownsville already.

[OldNavyGuy]

Flew this beauty out of Whidbey and off the carrier for 20 years. She kept me safe every time. Love the Old Girl. ⚓️

[MikeUSA]

Nice - but FYI, 90 kilometers is NOT about 80 miles - it's about 56 miles.

[jimtownsend]

I was in P-3s from '75 - '95. We used to see AND HEAR them every time we were in Whidbey. To this day, I'm convinced that the A-6/EA-6 holds the U.S. Military record (unofficial - I don't even know if anyone ever kept track!) for the highest noise to size ratio. The A-4 was pretty close, but the Prowlers were insane loud!
That being said, I loved those birds. To me, they were the 2nd most beautiful aircraft of the modern era, right behind my baby, the P-3 Orion. (It's a personal taste thing.) For the A-6, I like how it was essentially the opposite of other jets, i.e., wide in the front and tapered in the back. Sort of a modern version of the P-38 Lightning, only with a single tail boom. It was, as the surf dudes used to say, bitchin'! The S-3 was a close 3rd on the beauty contest, but I had two reasons to never go VS, namely: 1. Ejection Seats, and 2. Tail hook. Didn't do GBGBs (Great Big Gray Boats). I was happy to take off from land, and land on land. No rolling deck, no away for months at a time, never worried about my home sinking in the middle of the ocean. But I tip my cap to all those who filled those billets for me!

[spaceburger]

I love the Intruder and Prowler. I think they’re gorgeous.

[orlandoayala]

I was in a F-14 Squadron and our Pilots would always smile when they went on a mission with a EA-6b, I asked a pilot why are you guys always so happy when the Ea6b goes on a mission with you, the Pilot just said, it will be a greater chance we will actually see some combat and also we are suppose to fly escort to protect them but sometimes I wonder who is really protecting who ?

[alantaylor]

I saw them (and heard them take off) while serving in Afghanistan during 2005-2006. Sweet aircraft.

[jasonjaeger]

A lot times the E2-C flew along the EA-6B we would have to change out avionic equipment. Super power airplanes! So loud on the deck too. Double hearing protection a must.

[LeonAust]

I know the EA-18G Growler is the current naval EW aircraft but how good is the F-35C lightning II in an EW capability?

[kevinkaiser]

I have seen it, not in person, but in photos and video around the time of the Gulf War because my cousin's friend was in one; I don't remember where he sat in the cockpit because I was a kid at the time. He was on a carrier.