The US Navy’s last Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft flew its final flight from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington on 27 June, concluding 44 years in service with the force.
The carrier-based aircraft took part in a ceremonial final take-off and flyaway from its previous home base, leading the way for the Boeing EA-18G Growler to take over as its replacement.
The Prowler on its final take-off
Northrop Grumman
The Prowler flying alongside three Growlers
Northrop Grumman
This aircraft – number 163890 – was the USN’s last Prowler to be operated (one of 14 that were left in the fleet up until it was retired), out of a total of 173 that had been delivered since the aircraft became operational in 1971, Flightglobal’s Ascend Fleets database shows.
However, the US Marines Corps – which has operated the type since 1977 – will continue to fly its fleet of 25 Prowlers from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina until 2019.
Ascend shows that the USN has received 107 F/A-18F-derived Growlers to date, including two test aircraft, and has 28 further on order plus options for three more.
The Prowler is a long-range, all-weather electronic attack aircraft derived from the Grumman A-6 Intruder attack aircraft. Its primary mission is to detect, identify and disrupt enemy air defence radar systems and related communications systems in support of airstrikes, Northrop says.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
