Maybe to a neophyte. Very little commonality between a Prowler and an Intruder. About the same as a Super Hornet to a Hornet.
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 ...
Makes escape routes obsolete though. They won't be getting out.
Heck it was often hard to plan escape routes even when the TLQ-17A was jeep mounted.
There are several emitters aboard the Prowler but the high power assets are mounted in the pods slung from one of the five hardpoints. Most of what is contained in the vertical stab are receivers, not emitters. The "football" atop the vertical stab contains surveillance receivers. The gold in the canopy is overkill and isn't necessary for protecting the crew from exposure to emitted rf. It does, however, remain part of the spec.
This has been public knowledge for several years. Just google “EA-6B IED jamming”.
Thnaks DB.
We are.
Good. :-)
Maybe to a neophyte. Very little commonality between a Prowler and an Intruder. About the same as a Super Hornet to a Hornet.
The short answer is "yes", but it would have to be a separate electrical generator other than the truck's own system. The jammer pods require so much electrical power for the amplifiers that most of them are equipped with a high speed wind driven generator in the nose. The plane's internal electrical generators can't supply enough current to run the jammer pods, so they have to generate their own via wind turbines. A truck would have to carry a gas or diesel generator set in back to run a high powered jammer.
I was stationed at Minot, ND during the seventies. I always thought the KC-135s were the louder then the B-52s. Also the blue flame exaust emitted by the Delta Dart interceptors were really cool at night. BTW, where is Utapo?
From an airframes POV it's an Intruder limo with a really fancy sound system.
They could have done worse than tricking up that particular airframe. It is a solid design.
ooo, OOO, Mistah Kottar! Mistah Kottar!!!
I know, I know!!!
Pick me!!! Pick Me!!!
;-)
I know...shut up! hehehe
Thailand. The USAF was doing bombing from there during the Vietnam campaign of WW III.
Why yes, I used to drive around with one, for the inattentive cell-talkers weaving around near me. Illegal to turn it on of course, but no law against building one. Pretty straight forward if you understand the technique.
Was going to design one about the size of a paperback book for restaurant use, but got sidetracked.
I remember there was a similar device for those ‘boom cars’ that used a CD radio, an amplifier, and some special antennae. I sure would like one if they truly work. Shotgun shells get expensive.
“TLQ-17A”
That was my baby. My team could set that sucker up in minutes. Picked up a secondary in EW using the TLQ and the bigger GLQ.
“A truck would have to carry a gas or diesel generator set in back to run a high powered jammer.”
And it would probably be as loud and heat-emitting as the ones we used in the ‘70s. All the brass had to do to find us was turn off their jeeps and listen.
That is probably right, but I grew up near a B-52 that used to test the new JT9-D engine in Connecticut, and I still think the F-111 I heard at Cannon were louder! :)
However, that B-52 I saw never took of with bombs from the airport I was near.
Great Plane indeed, Wasn’t
that the plane that Gw Flew in the Guard?
The Prowler has much more capability than the Raven ever had. No ability to employ the AGM-88 on an EF-111 for starters. No TERPES, etc. ...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.