Editing Grumman EA-6B Prowler (section)

===Origins===
By the 1960s, the [[United States Marine Corps]] (USMC) was operating several aging [[Electronic countermeasure]] (ECM) platforms, including the  [[F3D Skyknight|EF-10B Skyknight]] and [[AD Skyraider]]. The service sought to procure more modern platforms; this desire led to the development of the EA-6A "Electric Intruder".<ref name="navyhist prowler">{{Cite web |title=EA-6B Prowler |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nnam/explore/collections/aircraft/e/ea-6b-prowler0.html |access-date=5 April 2024 |website=Naval History and Heritage Command - National Naval Aviation Museum |language=en-US}}</ref> The EA-6A was a direct conversion of the standard [[Grumman A-6 Intruder]] airframe, equipped with a twin-seat cockpit along with assorted [[electronic warfare]] (EW) equipment. During December 1965, the EA-6A entered [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]] service with the USMC; shortly thereafter, it saw action in [[Operation Rolling Thunder]] during the [[Vietnam War]].<ref name="navyhist prowler" /> A total of three USMC squadrons were equipped with the type in the conflict; a total of 27 EA-6As were produced, 15 of which were newly manufactured while the others were conversions.<ref name="Frawley_EA-6B">{{cite encyclopedia |first=Gerald |last=Frawley |title=Grumman EA-6B Prowler |encyclopedia=The International Directory of Military Aircraft, 2002/2003 |publisher=Aerospace Publications |year=2002 |isbn=1-875671-55-2}}</ref> The majority of these EA-6As were retired from service in the 1970s; the final handful of aircraft were operated by two electronic attack "aggressor" squadrons of the [[United States Navy]] (USN). These last examples were finally retired during the 1990s.<ref name="Eden_EA-6B">{{cite encyclopedia |first=Paul |last=Eden |title=Grumman EA-6B Prowler |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft |publisher=Amber Books |year=2004 |isbn=1-904687-84-9}}</ref> The EA-6A was essentially an interim [[warplane]] until the more-advanced EA-6B could be designed and built.

[[File:EA-6A and EA-6B of VMAQ-2 in flight c1977.jpg|thumb|left|The two-seat EA-6A (top) was followed by the four-seat EA-6B Prowler (bottom)]]
During 1966, development of the EA-6B, a substantially redesigned and more advanced model, commenced as a replacement for the [[A-3 Skywarrior|EKA-3B Skywarriors]] then being operated by the United States Navy. The redesign included the lengthening of the forward fuselage to create a rear area that accommodated a larger four-seat cockpit while an antenna fairing was added to the tip of the [[vertical stabilizer]].<ref name="Frawley_EA-6B"/> The EA-6B was powered by a pair of [[Pratt & Whitney J52]] [[turbojet engine]]s, which enable it to attain high subsonic speeds.<ref name = "Hansen 10">Hansen 2006, p. 10.</ref> On 14 November 1966, Grumman was awarded a $12.7 million contract to develop an EA-6B prototype.<ref>{{cite news |title= EA-6B Prototype |newspaper= Naugatuck Daily News |date= 17 November 1966 |page= 4}}</ref> On 25 May 1968, the EA-6B performed its [[maiden flight]];<ref name = "sweetman 8">Sweetman 2002, p. 8.</ref> it entered regular service on [[aircraft carrier]]s during July 1971.<ref name="world">Eden and Moeng 2002, p. 1152.</ref> Three prototype EA-6Bs were converted from A-6As, and five EA-6Bs were developmental airplanes. Between 1966 and 1991, a total of 170 EA-6B production aircraft were manufactured.<ref name="Eden_EA-6B"/>

The EA-6B was continually upgraded over the years. The first such upgrade was named "expanded capability" (EXCAP) beginning in 1973. Then came "improved capability" (ICAP) in 1976 and ICAP II in 1980. The ICAP II upgrade provided the EA-6B with the capability of firing [[Shrike missile]]s and [[AGM-88 HARM]] missiles.<ref name="Eden_EA-6B"/>