Posted on 06/15/2007 6:51:38 AM PDT by RDTF
ABOARD THE USS NIMITZ IN THE GULF – A secret aircraft that debuted in Vietnam and usually protects U.S. fighter jets has taken on a different and crucial task over Iraq – trying to stop the scourge of roadside bombs by jamming ground signals from mobile phones and garage door openers. The EA-6B Prowler is thought to be one of the most effective U.S. weapons against the bombs, the biggest killer of American service members in Iraq. But no one can be sure: Even supporters say its effectiveness is hard to measure.
The aircraft debuted at the tail end of Vietnam and was used in Kosovo and the 1991 Gulf War, escorting U.S. attack jets while jamming military radios, hostile radars and air defense batteries aimed at them. These days the Prowler focuses its jammers on smaller signals: those of mobile phones and garage door openers that are used to trigger roadside bombs in Iraq, said U.S. Navy Capt. David Woods, 49, of Ogden, Utah.
Often, it's hard to prove that a roadside bomb failed to explode because of Prowler jamming signals, Woods said. Still, he's confident the plane is making a difference against the bombs, which the military calls improvised explosive devices, or IEDs.
“When it's flying we have greater success and fewer IEDs going off,” Woods said. “It's kind of an insurance policy.”
Woods, the commander of Carrier Air Wing Eleven and one of the Navy's most experienced Prowler pilots, says few people understand the EA-6B's mission, which is to control the electromagnetic spectrum so allies can use it – but not enemies.
The Prowler and its electronic warfare system is so valuable it has never been exported – even to close allies. Details about the training of crew members are secret.
(Excerpt) Read more at cfx.signonsandiego.com ...
I’ve heard stories of “Queers” frying television sets and garage door openers in Virginia Beach, when they radiated the right device at the wrong time, or in the wrong area...
Reminds me of the Gerbil and mailing tube joke !
From its root as an Intruder, that AC has always reminded me of a sandshark.
Suspose that’s entirely fitting now....
Hey!
I know what OPSEC means!
Oh.... Under 40.......
so much for that.......
irresistible and unmissable target for sure, toddlintown. ;-)
Back to the drawing board.
Better yet, every 10 minutes, broadcast all cellphone and garage door opener codes and signals.
That's what Tom Clancey's characters call them in "Red Storm Rising" and other stories. It cracked me up the first time I saw it because it was exactly typical of salty fighter pilot humor.
We should be using another VietNam era weapon as well. It’s called the B-52. Any questions?
The Navy is going in the wrong direction entirely by trying to replace this aircraft with a version of the Hornet. Crew will be reduced by 50% and the process will have to be automated considerably to accomodate the loss of crew.
You got it - Cost savings for the sake of "theoretical" cost savings is a dangerous game...and is/will cost us lives.
The Prowler (EAB6) should have been upgraded based off itself - Just as the 14's (Cat's) should have - We've made the 18's a jack of all trades but not expectational at anything....(and the cost savings aren't what they were all suppose to be to boot....for universal equipment replacement).
We are - EAB-6 are an effective overlap to a degree - Problem is, many of the IEDs we are facing are LOS (Line of Sight) IEDs hardwired to the detonator. Jammers just aren't much help Vs these....
I read the title and was hoping the story would be about the A1 Skyraider.
I flew on these a few times in Da Nang. We had a cowboy as a pilot, fun guy. Once he took us from ground to 35 - 40 K in about one minute; THAT was a rush.
Another time, he didn’t warn us, but took the hook at Da Nang. I never realized til then that Da Nang AFB had an arrester. ANOTHER rush!
Great times.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1601668/posts
Since he has flown in both types, and I personally like his conclusions better, I'll side with him. ;^)
But you're right, the Raven and the Prowler were designed for two different missions. The Raven doesn't have to survive cat shots, sea spray, or arrested landings. The Raven had supersonic dash capability and a 1300 mile combat radius. The Raven could lead a strike package consisting of F-15Es or F-16s and keep up. And the Raven had a 1200 mile combat radius.
The Prowler was originally designed to accompany subsonic strike packages, so supersonic dash was not important. The Intruder's 800 mile combat radius was adequate because it was as good or better than the combat radius of the carrier strike packages it originally was designed to accompany. However, with the (stupid) early retirement of the Ravens, the Prowler fleet is being overtaxed trying to do both Navy and Air Force missions.
With the Growler, one can see which way the Navy is going for it's future EW, and it looks more like the Raven than the Prowler.
I’ve always liked the looks of that bird........
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