A-6A Intruder | A-6E TRAM | EA-6B Prowler |
The EA-6B Prowler is one of the three SEAD Aircraft that are available to the United States, they were first introduced in Wargame: AirLand Battle.
History[]
The Grumman EA-6B Prowler was developed from the two-seat EA-6A as a stand-off Electronic Warfare aircraft for the United States Navy. The EA-6B features an extended nose, four-man crew, and an enhanced jamming suite compared to the EA-6A, itself based on the A-6A. First flown in May of 1968, the Prowler began delivery to the USN in January 1971. The EA-6B carries a set of jamming pods and can carry anti-radar missiles for the Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) mission.
These were used in VAQ squadrons in the US Navy and VMAQ squadrons of the USMC.
Overview[]
AirLand Battle[]
The EA-6B is a dedicated SEAD aircraft, and carries four AGM-78D Standard ARM missiles. Its Exceptional ECM and Medium Stealth ratings make it a difficult opponent for radar guided weapons to target, and the AGM-78D provides the EA-6B with a long range punch against radar-guided SAM and AAA sites. While the EA-6B is relatively safe from enemy fighters' long range missiles, again thanks to its ECM and Stealth ratings, it is powerless to stop them close-in with infrared guided missiles and guns. The EA-6B carries no gun, or any air to air missile compliment. It is also vulnerable to non-radar based missiles and cannons fired from the ground. The Prowler, then, is ideal for taking out long-range radar-guided SAMs, or radar assisted anti-aircraft guns. It must be covered by fighters if enemy air activity is anticipated.
Red Dragon[]
The EA-6B maintains its role as a dedicated SEAD aircraft in Wargame: Red Dragon, and continues to carry the AGM-78D Standard ARM missile. It has a high ECM value (50%) as one would expect of a SEAD platform, Medium stealth, but the number of Standard ARMs it carries has been reduced from four to two. The Standard ARM's range has been increased to 4900m from 4200m. The EA-6B costs 10 points more than it did in AirLand Battle, and its advantages and disadvantages are largely the same between the two installments.