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To: VaBthang4
The Prowlers are still in service, thank goodness. The USN believes in EW still, and Congress forced the USAF to go along with more Prowlers. Inferior to the EF-111, but a lot better than nothing.
51 posted on 01/05/2002 6:02:51 PM PST by Mr Rogers
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To: Mr Rogers
For the record, EF-111s are better than Prowlers (EA-6B) for the USAF mission.

Inferior to the EF-111, but a lot better than nothing.

Besides the lack of a TFR the only inferiority the Prowler has compared to the Raven was speed. From an operational capability standpoint the Prowler is a much superior platform; the EWO in the right seat of the Raven had to do the work of three ECMOs. The "automation" of the TJS onboard the Raven never could hold a candle to the manual system on the Prowler. Lack of TERPES and no ability to shoot the HARM were also strikes against the Raven.

Considering the poor performance of the F/A-18E/F it is doubtful that that platform will be a replacement for the Prowler. It would also have the same workload problem that the Raven had. A report in Aviation Week last fall showed that it would be cheaper to restart the Prowler line than trying to implement a new airframe. The entire EA-6B fleet is getting new wings and the ADVCAP upgrade is back in the works. The Prowler should remain in the fleet until the 2020 time frame.

You are correct about the Air Force neglecting the EW mission.

123 posted on 01/06/2002 9:53:46 AM PST by SMEDLEYBUTLER
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