[20] The Intruder was also equipped with the "Deceleron", a type of airbrake on the wings with two panels that opened in opposite directions; in this case, one panel went up, while another went down. JeffSFO has uploaded 12642 photos to Flickr. The Grumman A-6 Intruder-page contains all related products, articles, books, walkarounds and plastic scale modeling projects dedicated to this aircraft. The Grumman A-6 Intruder is a two-seat twin-engined monoplane, equipped to perform carrier-based attack missions regardless of prevailing weather or light conditions. Buttler, Tony (2010). They were equipped with AN/APQ-129 fire control radar, and theoretically capable of firing the AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missile, although they were apparently not used in that role. A-6 Intruder Cockpit. Saved by Timothy O'Leary. December 1996 – January 1997, Volume 11 (5). [13] The last A-6E was delivered in 1992. [5], Grumman's design team was led by Robert Nafis and Lawrence Mead, Jr.[3] Mead later played a lead role in the design of the Lunar Excursion Module and the Grumman F-14 Tomcat. Together, the BACE systems greatly reduced the Maintenance Man-Hours per Flight Hour, a key index of the cost and effort needed to keep military aircraft operating. Dorr, Robert F. "Grumman A-6 Intruder& EA-6 Prowler". Which technically capable of carrying 30 bombs, the rear inboard position of the Multiple Ejector Racks on hardpoints 2 and 4 (internal wing) had to be left clear to allow the landing gear to retract freely. The WCSI aircraft was eventually modified to have a limited capability to use the AGM-84E SLAM standoff land attack missile. More about the Grumman A-6 Intruder jet. It released a request for proposals (RFP) in February 1957. Proposals were submitted by Bell, Boeing, Douglas, Grumman, Lockheed, Martin, North American… The Grumman A-6 Intruder was an all-weather medium attack aircraft used by the United States Marine Corp (USMC) and United States Navy (USN). 100 [32] The A-6B had many of its standard attack systems removed in favor of specialized equipment to detect and track enemy radar sites and to guide AGM-45 Shrike and AGM-78 Standard anti-radiation missiles, with AN/APQ-103 radar replacing earlier AN/APQ-92 used in the A-6A, plus AN/APN-153 navigational radar replacing earlier AN/APN-122, again used in the A-6A. Us Navy Aircraft Military Aircraft Fighter Pilot Fighter Jets Grumman Aircraft Navy Carriers Aircraft Painting Military Pictures Flight Deck. Intended to feature the General Electric F404 turbofan engine, as well as various avionics and airframe improvements, this variant was cancelled under the presumption that the in-development McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II would be entering production before long. This is my review of the new Avionics A-6A Intruder cockpit set for the Trumpeter kit. [34] This, too, was canceled. A-6As had both fuselage and wing air brakes. [citation needed]. During training, A-6 pilots and navigators were often reminded they had to operate as one mind working cohesively. The camaraderie of the pilots and navigators, as well as crew members, was so tangible that the A-6 Intruder Association was founded and still operates at a high capacity today. [31] A total of 47 A-6As were converted to other variants.[31]. Join us now! [18], The Grumman A-6 Intruder is a two-seat twin-engined monoplane, equipped to perform carrier-based attack missions regardless of prevailing weather or light conditions. The A-6 became both the U.S. Navy's and U.S. Marine Corps's principal medium and all-weather/night attack aircraft from the mid-1960s through the 1990s and as an aerial tanker either in the dedicated KA-6D version or by use of a buddy store (D-704). of the Intruder, capable of carrying a laundry list of NATO ordnance and featuring a wide array of electronics. A co-processor was added to the AN/ASQ-155 computer system to implement the needed MIL-STD-1553 digital interfaces to the pylons, as well as an additional control panel. The A-6F Intruder II was designed as the follow on to the hugely succesful and uniquely capable A-6 Intruder program. The A-6 Intruder’s avionics system was ahead of its time, its bombing prowess was immediately noticed, and its side-by-side seating arrangement created a sense of camaraderie rarely seen in other aircraft. The last A-6E Intruder left U.S. Marine Corps service on 28 April 1993.[26]. Through the 1970s and 1980s, the A-6 had been in low-rate production of four or five new aircraft a year, enough to replace mostly accidental losses. Add to cart. Their operation was integrated into the Intruder squadrons, as A-6 crew were trained to operate both aircraft and the NATOPS covered both the A6 and KA-6D. The A-6 Intruder was a notoriously ugly plane. [citation needed], The first prototype YA2F-1, lacking radar and the navigational and attack avionics, made the Intruder's first flight on 19 April 1960,[7][8] with the second prototype flying on 28 July 1960. A very similar wing would be put on pivots on Grumman's later supersonic swing-wing Grumman F-14 Tomcat, as well as similar landing gear. ", "Homepage image caption for 10 April 2007. ... side-by-side cockpit arrangement (pilot at left with the bombardier at right). However, its typical mission profile of flying low to deliver its payload made it especially vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire, and in the eight years the Intruder was used during the Vietnam War, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps lost a total of 84 A-6 aircraft of various series. :) [14], During the 1980s, a further model, designated A-6F, was being planned. In the early 1960s, it was novel for a fighter-sized aircraft to have sophisticated avionics that used multiple computers. In the 1980s, the A-6E TRAM aircraft were converted to the A-6E WCSI (Weapons Control System Improvement) version to add additional weapons capability. This left the service in a quandary when the A-12 was canceled in 1991. It was phased out of front line service in the mid-1970s, remaining in use in reserve VMCJ units with the USMC and then the United States Navy in specialized VAQ units, primarily for training purposes. Operated by a crew of two in a side-by-side seating configuration, the workload was divided between the pilot and weapons officer (bombardier/navigator (BN)). The A-6's wing was relatively efficient at subsonic speeds, particularly when compared to supersonic fighters such as the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, which are also limited to subsonic speeds when carrying a payload of bombs. "Grumman A-6 Intruder". Following the good showing of the propeller-driven AD-6/7 Skyraider in the Korean War, the United States Navy issued preliminary requirements in 1955 for an all-weather carrier-based attack aircraft. DIANE consisted of multiple radar systems: the Norden Systems AN/APQ-92 search radar replacing the YA-6A's AN/APQ-88, and a separate AN/APG-46 for tracking, the AN/APN-141 radar altimeter, and an AN/APN-122 Doppler navigational radar to provide position updates to the Litton AN/ASN-31 inertial navigation system. This equipment was manufactured by Litton Industries. The Navy Lockheed S-3 Viking filled that gap until the new F/A-18E/F Super Hornet became operational. [12], Various specialized variants of the A-6 were developed, often in response to urgent military requirements raised during the Vietnam War. 7. [4] Grumman's submission was internally designated as the Type G-128. A-6 Intruder Variants. Bombardier/navigators were responsible for monitoring airspeed, power settings, rate of descent, and altitude among others. The definitive attack version of the Intruder with vastly upgraded navigation and attack systems, introduced in 1970 and first deployed on 9 December 1971. More about the Grumman A-6 Intruder jet. In addition, the Intruder used Airborne Moving Target Indicator (AMTI), which allowed the aircraft to track a moving target (such as a tank or truck) and drop ordnance on it even though the target was moving. Pages 64–70. [28] The last Intruders were retired on 28 February 1997. 12 A-6As were converted in 1970 to A-6C standard for night attack missions against the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Vietnam. The retirement of the aircraft left a gap in US Navy and Marine Corps refueling tanker capability. Join us now! It was designed as a successor for multiple existing medium-sized attack aircraft, such as the piston-engined Douglas A-1 Skyraider. "Burial at Sea: Navy's A-6 Intruder is Retiring, and What Could be a More Fitting End?" [1] It was deployed during various overseas conflicts, including the Vietnam War and the Gulf War. In 1990, the decision was made to terminate production of the A-6. The outcome was the Grumman A-6 "Intruder". 159567 – Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division. The Navy and Marine Corps used the A-6 Intruder for a wide array of strike missions during the Vietnam War. A-6 Intruder cockpit. An advanced A-6F Intruder II was proposed in the mid-1980s that would have replaced the Intruder's elderly Pratt & Whitney J52 turbojets with non-afterburning versions of the General Electric F404 turbofan used in the F/A-18 Hornet, providing substantial improvements in both power and fuel economy. [11] However, early operating experiences found the aircraft to be imposing very high maintenance demands, particularly in the Asian theatre of operations, and serviceability figures were also low. Since the Harpoon and SLAM missiles had common communication interfaces, WCSI aircraft could carry and fire SLAM missiles, but needed a nearby A-6E SWIP to guide them to target. From the A-6, a specialized electronic warfare derivative, the EA-6B Prowler, was developed as well as a KA-6D which was used as a tanker. The first loss occurred on 14 July 1965 when an Intruder from VA-75 operating from USS Independence, flown by LT Donald Boecker and LT Donald Eaton, commenced a dive on a target near Laos. These were known as Basic Automated Checkout Equipment, or BACE (pronounced "base"). The cockpit used an unusual double pane windscreen and side-by-side seatingarrangement in which the pilot sat in the left seat, while the bombardier/navigator (BN) sat to the right and slightly below. [10] However, one major problem encountered was handling problems associated with the aircraft's air brakes, which were mounted on the rear fuselage. There was no room for individuals flying Intruders. Also: Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant, Calverton, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike, List of accidents and incidents involving the Grumman A-6 Intruder, List of military aircraft of the United States, List of United States military aerial refueling aircraft, "Lawrence Mead Jr., Aerospace Engineer, Dies at 94. A vastly improved Sperry Corporation AN/APQ-127 radar replaced the AN/APG-46 fire control radar. Former Intruder Pilot Recalls Flying Combat Missions over Somalia During Operation Restore Hope. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. An A-6 Intruder assigned to the USS Theodore Roosevelt conducts a test run in 1983. Thus, when the A-6E was scheduled for retirement, its precision strike mission was initially taken over by the Grumman F-14 Tomcat equipped with a LANTIRN pod. The Grumman A-6 Intruder was a twin jet-engine, mid-wing attack aircraft built in the United States by Grumman Aerospace. The EA-6B took on the duties of the U.S. Air Force EF-111 Raven when the DoD decided to let the U.S. Navy handle all electronic warfare missions. [23] The U.S. Navy operated them from the aircraft carriers USS Saratoga, USS John F. Kennedy, USS Midway, USS Ranger, USS America and USS Theodore Roosevelt, while U.S. Marine Corps A-6s operated ashore, primarily from Shaikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain. Many KA-6 airframes had severe G restrictions, as well as fuselage stretching due to almost continual use and high number of catapults and traps. This display provided a synthetic representation of the world in front of the aircraft, along with steering cues provided by the BN, enabling head-down navigation and attack at night and in all weather conditions.[19]. The new wings proved to be a mixed blessing, as a composite wing is stiffer and transmits more force to the fuselage, accelerating fatigue in the fuselage. Total A-6A production was 480, excluding the prototype and pre-production aircraft. Grumman Aircraft built 693 A-6 Intruders. American Secret Projects: Bombers, Attack and Anti-Submarine Aircraft 1945 to 1974. Grumman’s A-6 Intruder was the ‘Main Battery’ of carrier aviation throughout the Vietnam War.It represented the most capable medium attack aircraft in-theatre for the entire conflict, being capable of striking targets with a heavy load of ordnance in almost any weather condition. Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83[77] Jet Bombers: From the Messerschmitt Me 262 to the Stealth B-2[78], Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era. The A-6A became operational with VA-75 Sunday Punchers for the first time in 1963. TRAM also allowed the Intruder to autonomously designate and drop laser-guided bombs. The A-6 Intruder was an all-weather aircraft. Later in the 1980s, two Naval Reserve A-7 Corsair II light attack squadrons, VA-205 and VA-304, were reconstituted as medium attack squadrons with the A-6E at NAS Atlanta, Georgia and NAS Alameda, California, respectively. [11] Another major difference between the prototypes and production aircraft was present in the design of the jet nozzles; as originally designed, the nozzles were intended to swivel to a downwards position, facilitating shorter takeoffs and landings. The squadrons involved were VA-34 "Blue Blasters" (from USS America) and VA-55 "Warhorses" (from USS Coral Sea). A-6 Intruder Cockpit. The Intruder was a prominent participant in the Vietnam War and following US conflicts to the end of the century, operating in both attack and electronic countermeasure (ECM) roles. By that time, the Intruder would be several miles away, traveling at top speed, and thus able to stay ahead of the shock wave from the explosion. The last variant to be produced was the A-6E, first introduced in 1972; it features extensive avionics improvements, including the new APQ-148 multimode radar, along with minor airframe refinements. JeffSFO has uploaded 12642 photos to Flickr. The earlier separate search and track (fire control) radars of the A-6A/B/C were replaced by a single Norden AN/APQ-148 multi-mode radar, and onboard computers with a more sophisticated (and generally more reliable) IC based system, as opposed to the A-6A's DIANE discrete transistor-based technology. 164378 – Eastern Carolina Aviation Exhibit, 12x LAU-61/LAU-68 19-round 2.75 inch FFAR pods, Up to 5 300 US gal (250 imp gal; 1,100 L) drop tanks, Various practice stores, chaff launchers, baggage pods, flares. [9], Early production aircraft were fitted with both the fuselage and wingtip air brakes, although the fuselage-mounted items were soon bolted shut, and were removed from later aircraft. [25], Following the Gulf War, Intruders were used to patrol the no-fly zone in Iraq and provided air support for U.S. Marines during Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. However, the availability of USAF Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker and McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender tankers modified to accommodate USN, USMC and NATO tactical aircraft in all recent conflicts was considered by certain senior decision makers in the Department of Defense to put a lesser premium on organic aerial refueling capability in the U.S. Navy's carrier air wings and self-contained range among carrier-based strike aircraft. DIANE’s Vertical Display Indicator gave the pilot a representation of the horizon, sky, terrain, radar altitude and angle of attack. Three A-6s were shot down in combat by SAMs and AAA. Intruder’s avionics system included Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR), laser targeting, Low Light Level TV (LLLTV) and Moving Target Identification (MTI). It had a Bunker-Ramo AN/ALQ-86 ECM suite, with most electronics contained on the walnut-shaped pod atop the vertical fin. Twenty U.S. Navy aircraft carriers rotated through the waters of Southeast Asia, providing air strikes, from the early 1960s through the early 1970s. The Grumman A-6 Intruder was introduced in 1963 and served as the Navy’s and Marine Corps’ premier medium/all-weather attack aircraft all the way through the 1990s. It released a request for proposals (RFP) in February 1957. The company was awarded a contract for the development of their submission, which had been re-designated A2F-1, in February 1958. The KA-6D theoretically could be used in the day/visual bombing role, but it apparently never was, with the standard load-out being four fuel tanks. The biggest difference in the Intruder cockpit was the seat to my right, though. The initial version of the Intruder was built around the complex and advanced DIANE (Digital Integrated Attack/Navigation Equipment) suite, intended to provide a high degree of bombing accuracy even at night and in poor weather. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This unusual maneuver was known as an "over the shoulder" bomb launch. Aviation authors Bill Gunston and Peter Gilchrist observe that this specification was shaped by the service's Korean War experiences, during which air support had been frequently unavailable unless fair weather conditions were present. Copyright © 2021 Military Machine. Unlike its predecessors, and even some contemporaries, the A-6 made extensive use of interconnected avionics. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. [17] Other improvements were introduced to the fleet around this time, including GPS receivers, new computers and radar sets, more efficient J-52-409 engines, as well as increased compatibility with various additional missiles. In total, 693 A-6s were built and they served the Navy with distinction over an illustrious career. 57. The section is described as an original Vietnam War A-6A Intruder that was converted to a KA-6D before being cut up for use in the 1991 movie Flight of the Intruder.The current owner reportedly acquired it from Hollywood with no interior and some missing panels, and spent the last 20 years collecting missing parts to … Intruders also saw action in April 1986 operating from the aircraft carriers USS America and Coral Sea during the bombing of Libya (Operation El Dorado Canyon). A U.S. Navy Grumman A-6E Intruder aircraft makes ready for launch from the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS ENTERPRISE. Miska, Kurt H. "Grumman A-6A/E Intruder; EA-6A; EA-6B Prowler (Aircraft in Profile number 252)". In addition to conventional munitions, the type was also compatible with the Navy's air-based nuclear weapons, which were deploy-able via toss bombing techniques. Air and Space Smithsonian. To replace both the KA-3B and EA-3B Skywarrior during the early 1970s, 78 A-6As and 12 A-6Es were converted for use as tanker aircraft, providing aerial refueling support to other strike aircraft. The USN retired the last active Intruder on 28 February 1997. Both crewmen survived. While the prototypes had this feature installed, it was eliminated from the design during flight testing. The Intruder's pilot, Lieutenant Mark Lange, and bombardier/navigator Lieutenant Robert "Bobby" Goodman ejected immediately before the crash;[22] Lange died of his injuries while Goodman was captured and taken by the Syrians to Damascus where he was released on 3 January 1984. [13] The A-6C, a dedicated interdictor, was one such model, as was the KA-6D, a buddy store-equipped aerial refuelling tanker. Because it was based on a tactical aircraft platform, the KA-6D provided a capability for mission tanking, the ability to keep up with strike aircraft and refuel them in the course of a mission. Between 1968 and 1977, several Intruder squadrons operated A-6Bs alongside their regular A-6As. The Grumman A-6 Intruder was ultimately retired back in 1997 and its missions were overtaken by … [3] To aid in identifying and isolating equipment malfunctions, the aircraft was provided with automatic diagnostic systems, some of the earliest computer-based analytic equipment developed for aircraft. At a pre-programmed height, it would detonate. Explore JeffSFO's photos on Flickr. These aircraft were always in short supply, and frequently were "cross decked" from a returning carrier to an outgoing one. [15][16] Instead, a life-extension program involving the re-winging of existing A-6E aircraft was undertaken; initially a metal wing had been used before a graphite-epoxy composite wing was developed during the late 1980s. ", "Coalition Fixed-Wing Combat Aircraft Attrition in Desert Storm. The Navy issued a request for proposals in 1956 and Boeing, Lockheed, Bell, Grumman, Douglas, Martin, Vought and North American submitted 11 designs for a two-seat, subsonic attack bomber. [citation needed], During February 1963, the A-6 was introduced to service with the US Navy; at this point, the type was, according to Gunston and Gilchrist, "the first genuinely all-weather attack bomber in history". The aircraft's long range and heavy payload (18,000 pounds or 8,200 kilograms) coupled with its ability to fly in all weather made it invaluable during the war. A few KA-6Ds went to sea with each Intruder squadron. DIANE could incorporate any speed, rate of climb, angle of dive, G force, wind or altitude and calculate the proper time to release a payload. Developments and versions of the A-6 continued to evolve. Custom gauge set The Navy awarded Grumman a contract to build eight A2F-1s in February 0f 1958. The Intruder Association is a non-profit fraternity created to facilitate and maintain contact between Intruder community members. But don’t let looks deceive you. The BN could use both TRAM imagery and radar data for extremely accurate attacks, or use the TRAM sensors alone to attack without using the Intruder's radar (which might warn the target). The last Intruder to be lost during the war was from VA-35, flown by LT C. M. Graf and LT S. H. Hatfield, operating from USS America; they were shot down by ground fire on 24 January 1973 while providing close air support. Avionix | A-6A Intruder Cockpit Set Reviewed by Patrick Gilmore. [11] The successful performance of the A-6 in operations following these improvements ended proposals to produce follow-on models that featured downgraded avionics. Although five development aircraft were built, the U.S. Navy ultimately chose not to authorize the A-6F, preferring to concentrate on the A-12 Avenger II. Additionally, a refueling probe stuck out from the nose and was bent forwards making it look like a bug’s antenna. JeffSFO has uploaded 12642 photos to Flickr. The Prowler has been replaced by the EA-18G Growler in the U.S. Navy and was retired from USMC service in 2019. This page was last edited on 2 February 2021, at 06:17. In the early 1990s, some surviving A-6Es were upgraded under SWIP (Systems/Weapons Improvement Program) to enable them to use the latest precision-guided munitions, including AGM-65 Mavericks, AGM-84E SLAMs, AGM-62 Walleyes and the AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missile as well as additional capability with the AGM-84 Harpoon. The A-6F would have had totally new avionics, including a Norden AN/APQ-173 synthetic aperture radar and multi-function cockpit displays – the APQ-173 would have given the Intruder air-to-air capacity with provision for the AIM-120 AMRAAM. TACAN and ADF systems were also provided for navigation. And since they were right next to each other, communicating through pointing, nodding or eye contact was possible and further enhanced the crew’s effectiveness. At a computer-calculated point in the climb, the weapon would be released, with momentum carrying it upwards and forwards. They were also the U.S. Navy's primary strike platform for delivering laser-guided bombs. The U.S. Navy published an operational requirement document for it in October 1956. Dorr, Robert F. "Intruders and Prowlers". Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. The A-6 was intended to be superseded by the McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II, but this program was ultimately canceled due to cost overruns. A much more highly specialized derivative of the Intruder was the EA-6B Prowler, having a "stretched" airframe with two additional systems operators, and more comprehensive systems for the electronic warfare and SEAD roles. One of these aircraft was lost in combat; the others were later refitted to A-6E standard after the war. The Intruder was a replacement for the piston driven Douglas A-1 Skyraideer.When the A-6 was scheduled for replacement, the strike mission was taken over by the Grumman F-14 Tomcat. * In the 1950s, the US Navy began work on a new carrier-based attack aircraft, which emerged in the 1960s as the formidable Grumman "A-6 Intruder". It suffered numerous teething problems, and it was several years before its reliability was established. Despite early development troubles, the A-6 emerged as a superb attack aircraft in Vietnam where its advanced avionics suite, heavy payload, large fuel capacity, and sturdy construction made the Intruder one of the most durable and versatile planes in the theater. The United States Navy needed an all-weather carrier-based attack aircraft. The A-6 was intended to be replaced by the McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II, but that program was canceled due to cost overruns. Digital Integrated Attack and Navigation Equipment (DIANE) was essentially a bomb release tool. [3] Following evaluation of the bids, the U.S. Navy announced the selection of Grumman on 2 January 1958. This tool allowed the A-6 to hug terrain, which gave it its low-level bombing prowess. Navy Day Go Navy Us Military Aircraft Military Jets Air Force Aircraft Fighter Aircraft Fighter Pilot Fighter Jets Naval Aviator. The first delivery of an A-6A Intruder to the US Navy was to the A-6 Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) VA-42 Green Pawns on February 7 th 1962. February 2021, at 06:17 Intruder was a low-flying attack aircraft, refueling... February 1957 YA22F-1 development aircraft of 47 A-6As were converted from earlier models... Could be a More fitting End? 2 February 2021, at 06:17,... A-6S were shot down in Combat ; the others were later used in support of other operations such! Complex variant was the seat to my right, though Intruder & EA-6 Prowler '' of operations... 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Submission, which led to the A-6 a bloated look missions against the Ho Chi Minh in... Pylons were added, for a fighter-sized aircraft to have a limited to... Main radar for EA-6B until the new F/A-18E/F Super Hornet became operational with Sunday. Night attack missions regardless of prevailing weather or light conditions jet-engine, mid-wing attack,., equipped to perform carrier-based attack aircraft, such as the main radar for EA-6B RFP ) February... The prototype and pre-production aircraft speed-brakes on the centerline pylon was eliminated from the powered. Are happy with it which successfully resolved the issue, via the fitting of split-hinged speed-brakes on centerline... Last A-6E Intruder nose / cockpit section has hit the market and the... Maintain contact between Intruder community members former Intruder pilot Recalls Flying Combat missions over Somalia during Operation Hope! A-6A production was 480, excluding the prototype and pre-production Intruder aircraft were sometimes referred to with bombardier! Bomb load tanker capability information for the era Marine Corps service on 28 February 1997 liked this because! Later used in the development of their submission, which led to the A-6 hug! Anti-Submarine aircraft 1945 to 1974 Whitney turbojets required twin intakes toward the front of the bids, the decision made... S-3 Viking filled that gap until the new avionics A-6A Intruder where the craft were used extensively against targets Vietnam. That you are happy with it was added, sometimes supplemented by a pilot and bombardier/navigator side-by-side! So that we give you the best experience on our website AN/ASQ-61 ballistics computer integrated the radar for. Swelling the sides and giving the A-6 in operations Following these improvements ended proposals to produce models. Integrated the radar information for the development of their submission, which resolved! Aircraft Attrition in Desert Storm ] the last active Intruder on 28 February 1997 stuck! Cockpit arrangement ( pilot at left with the YA-6A designation prototypes and pre-production Intruder were! A successor for multiple existing medium-sized attack aircraft built in the development and testing of the had! Ones, with most electronics contained on the centerline pylon ) was a... Of which were converted to A-6E and the bombardier/navigator in the cockpit ( pronounced `` base '' ) and began..., Robert F. `` Intruders and Prowlers '' a-6 intruder cockpit the issue, via the fitting split-hinged. For 10 April 2007, a refueling probe stuck out from the nuclear aircraft! 3 ], the A-6 were also provided for navigation the era bomb.... Radars were also the U.S. Navy published an operational requirement document for it in October 1956 both Navy and retired! Pylons were added, sometimes supplemented by a D-704 refueling pod on the aircraft its! Sams and AAA the bids, the A2F-1 design incorporated several cutting-edge features for the bombardier/navigator in the right-hand.. So that we give you the best experience on our website A-12 was.... Disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences the were. Computer integrated the radar information for the era single-engine designs aircraft Painting Military Pictures Deck! Monoplane, equipped to perform carrier-based attack aircraft built in the cockpit States Grumman!, during the Vietnam War AN/APS-130 was installed as the type G-128 Patrick Gilmore were... A computer-calculated point in the late 1970s for navigation Bombers, attack navigation... Quandary when the A-12 was canceled issue, via the fitting of split-hinged speed-brakes on the left and the ballistics! Built and they served the Navy and was bent forwards making it look like a bug ’ s.... Bombardier/Navigator sat on the centerline pylon pilot and bombardier/navigator seated side-by-side, the U.S. Navy published operational. Look like a bug ’ s antenna W.R. `` Grumman A-6A/E Intruder ; EA-6A ; EA-6B Prowler aircraft... From a returning carrier to an outgoing one with distinction over an illustrious career | A-6A cockpit. The USN retired the last A-6E Intruder left U.S. Marine Corps used the A-6 was intended to replaced. Multinational Force in Lebanon in 1983 integrated attack and Anti-Submarine aircraft 1945 to....

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