EA-6B prowler retires

[NutLoose]

45 years young

EA-6B Prowler Makes Its Final Flight for Navy | Military.com (http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/07/01/ea6b-prowler-makes-its-final-flight-for-navy.html)

[Willard Whyte]

I still cannot stifle a snigger at the name of its replacement.

[glad rag]

Hmm can we not grab these at bargain basement prices??

Seem to remember these were really highly sought after assets "in theatre"...

[Heathrow Harry]

they've always cost a fortune to maintain................

50 year old design with a lot of 20 year old electronics scabbed on........ unless you have a few hangars full of spares they'll spend more time out of action than in

[Stitchbitch]

The USMC are still flying theirs, it's only the U.S. Navy that have retired it.

[Wensleydale]

Does this mean that the USN will no longer jam all IFF modes over a live theatre of operations while they conduct a bit of work-up training? (Same CBG that kept misidentifying all returning Allied aircraft as Assumed Hostile on their first day of ops, and also persisted in launching fighters directly through the Adriatic tanker towlines).

[Davef68]

Wensleydale, no, they have the Growler!

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/EA-18G_Growler_VX-9_from_below_2008.jpg

[MPN11]

Very aerodynamic :D

Is there a tanker pod in there as well? ;)

[Robert Cooper]

Hear that Boeing are pushing the V-22 Osprey for this role.

Bob C

[sandiego89]

Indeed- lots of stuff hanging out in the breeze...

I think the Growler would be a perfect candidate for the overwing conformal tanks as trialed on the F.

[wessex19]

RAAF are also introducing the EA-18G Growler. Looks like an impressive aircraft