Page 32 - Williams Foundation Future of Electronic Warfare Seminar

A New Approach and Attitude to Electronic Warfare in Australia

And then CDR Paul added that it remains to be seen how the US Navy will employ the F-35 but that cross
learning from the USMC and the USAF will be crucial in this process.

Visiting the Prowler: USMC Electronic Warfare Capabilities in Transition
Todd Miller

February 22, 2017

The unmistakable Grumman EA-6B Prowler comes into view on the horizon and streaks low across the hills of
southern Virginia.

“Dog 31” of the VMAQ-3 Moon Dogs is on a routine low level training mission. The flight ensures pilot and
electronic countermeasures officers (ECMOs) realize the minimum designated 15 hours of monthly flight time to
maintain proficiency.

Additional time is spent training in simulators to address specific threat environments.

The Prowler wings by and banks into the late afternoon sun.
It is a visual metaphor, as sundown for the Prowler fleet is drawing near.

The Prowlers remain one of the premier electronic warfare (EW) aircraft in the services and are planned to
cease operations in 2019.

Prowler squadron VMAQT-1 the Banshees were decommissioned in 2016, and the current Marine Aviation
plan has the remaining squadrons following one per year; in 2017 the VMAQ-4 Seahawks, in 2018 the
VMAQ-3 Moon Dogs, and the last Prowler squadron, the VMAQ-2 Death Jesters will be decommissioned in
2019.

The 18 currently remaining EA-6Bs are based at MCAS Cherry Point, NC and split among the 3 active
squadrons as needs (deployments) require.
During this staged sundown, pilots and ECMOs are given options to transition to other aircraft, incoming EW
platforms, or pursue new occupational specialties.

In many respects the Prowler “sundown” is not a typical “retirement” where a platform with diminished
capacity slowly fades away.

Today’s Prowler is the most capable variant ever. The aircraft features the improved capabilities (ICAP) III
package and will receive Block 7 ICAP III upgrades to improve EW performance and operability through to
the end of service life.

The aircraft are effective and future deployments are planned.

Over 46 years of service Prowlers (USN since 1971 & USMC since 1977) have been involved in scores of
critical Navy, Air Force, Marine and Coalition operations. Since 9/11 Prowlers have been deployed near
continuously.

Recently, the aircraft have provided extensive service (including deployment to Incirlik Air Base in Turkey)
over Syria and Iraq to support the coalition in the fight against ISIS. In these theaters, the aircraft jam cell
phones and other remote signals that trigger IEDs as well radars that may be tracking coalition air assets.

Second Line of Defense

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