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EA-6B PROWLER KEEPS UP US ELECTRONIC WARFARE CAPABILITY

"The Prowler is definitely not a sexy aircraft, with potential for a media star. However, it is worth its salt, when attack formations are faced with powerful air defence missile systems, and is for that reason much liked by the forces." These are Lieutenant-Commander Ian Anderson's words. Like the former F-14 back seater, many pilots and Electronic Countermeasures Officers, (ECMOs) of the US Navy are proud to be part of the Prowler community. After all it was the only growth sector in naval aviatin recently.

The popularity of the EA-6B, which is a development of the Grumman A-6 Intruder, is no accident. Since the US Air Force took the EF-111 Raven out of service in the summer of 1998, the EA-6Bs are the American Forces' only remaining tactical electronic countermeasures aircraft. To fulfil an agreement between US Navy and USAF, the Navy set up four new Prowler squadrons (VAQ). These will predominantly be deployed for expeditions from land bases.

One of the "concrete" units is VAQ-128 Fighting Phoenix at the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, about 60 km north west of Seattle, Washington. Commanding Officer Pete Frano remembers that "the possibility to build up a new squadron from nothing was fantastic. We had to get everything, starting with tools for maintenance to pencils. The good thing was that we were able to realize our own ideas". Naturally the other EA-6B squadrons on Whidbey offered to help. This is why the time between the official setting up and initial operational capability was less than a year.

"We have excellent officers and corporals here. As Commanding Officer, I only have to ensure that everyone is working towards the same aim. Apart from that I simply leave them to do their job," explained Frano. The former A-6- Navigator stresses especially the fact that his soldiers are very experienced: "We have pilots here, who used to fly F-14, A-6, B-52 Stratofortress, A-10 Thunderbolt II or EF-111A Raven. We therefore have an abundance of ideas on how we could improve things".

"The squadrons four Air Force Officers, who have all been hand-picked, are especially important. They form a perfect connection with various Air Forces units and have given us new insights into deployment tactics", enthuses Pete Frano.

Lieutenant Commander Ian Anderson explains the differences: "The Navy generally tends towards ad-hoc deployments, with single attacks or short operations to demonstrate the USA's resolution. Typically a Prowler squadron which operates from an aircraft carrier protects a small, tightly packed group of fast fighter-bombers. These stay only a few minutes in the dangerous air defence zone in question.

However, the Air Force is thinking of longer air battle campaigns in order to achieve higher political aims with the aid of its bombers. A "concrete" Prowler squadron must therefore work with mixed attack formations, like with F-15, F-16 or B-52H and other aircraft, which operate in areas, and which are being covered by hostile air defence rockets for longer periods of time".

Captain Robert Zabel, former Electronic Warfare Officer with the EF-111A, claims, that, "We can bring in a whole host of experience". It was not difficult for him to re-adjust to the EA-6B. "The ALQ-99 systems are very similar. The Prowler has three ECMOs which drastically reduces our workload. We are also flying slightly slower", says Zabel, who had to get used to the Navy's deployment methods.

For Major Ken Edwards, who used to be an A-10-Pilot, flying with the Prowler meant a whole new ball game. "I had to learn a lot about radar and efficient countermeasure tactics", remembers Edwards, who is convinced that, "we have a great potential to introduce new procedures and integrate the aircraft optimally into modern ways of combat. This is an exciting task for everyone in the squadron".

Since setting up, VAQ-128 has already been at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada several times. She took part in two "Red-Flag"-exercises and showed off her capability during realistic maneuvres.

When co-operating with the Air Force, a Prowler squadron is thrown back on its own resources to a higher degree, than when it is part of a Carrier Air Wing. Lieutenant Commander Ian Anderson explains: "We are either directly answerable to the Navy's VAQ Wing Pacific or to the Air Force's 4404th Provisional Wing".

The "concrete" squadrons gladly take on this increase in responsibility. Captain John Cryer III is convinced, that "the units are indispensable for our global presence and our capability for electronic warfare". Indeed, offensives without high-performance countermeasure aircraft to suppress air defences are unthinkable today. Hence the EA-6B's future seems secured: The aircraft will remain in service until 2015.

From page 54 of FLUG REVUE 3/99