"Without question, the arrival of the EA-6B Prowler on the carrier deck established airborne electronic attack as an invaluable, 'don't leave home without it' part of every Navy and Marine strike mission."
- Rick Morgan, LCDR, USN (Ret.) and historian for the Prowler Association

The Northrop Grumman (formerly Grumman) EA-6B Prowler is a twin-engine, mid-wing electronic warfare aircraft derived from the A-6 Intruder airframe. The EA-6A was the initial electronic warfare version of the A-6 used by the United States Marine Corps in the 1960s. Development on the more advanced EA-6B began in 1966. An EA-6B aircrew consists of one pilot and three Electronic Countermeasures Officers, though it is not uncommon for only two ECMOs to be used on missions. It is capable of carrying and firing anti-radiation missiles (ARM), such as the AGM-88 HARM missile.

Prowler has been in service with the U.S. Armed Forces since 1971. It has carried out numerous missions for jamming enemy radar systems, and in gathering radio intelligence on those and other enemy air defense systems. From the 1998 retirement of the United States Air Force EF-111 Raven electronic warfare aircraft, the EA-6B was the only dedicated electronic warfare plane available for missions by the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, and the United States Air Force until the fielding of the Navy's EA-18G Growler in 2009. The last Navy deployment was over in November 2014, with the full withdrawal from US Navy service in early 2015.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a USN Grumman EA-6B Prowler Electronic Warfare Aircraft that was attached to Electronic Attack Squadron 135 (VAQ-135) "Black Ravens", then embarked upon the USS Nimitz (CVN-68), during 1978. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 8-3/4-inches
Length: 10-inches

Release Date: October 2016

Historical Account: "Black Ravens" - Electronic Attack Squadron 135 (VAQ-135), known as the "Black Ravens", is a United States Navy electronic attack squadron that currently operates the EA-18G Growler carrier-based electronic warfare jet aircraft. The squadron is permanently stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island with a radio callsign of "Thunder".

Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron One Three Five was established on May 15th, 1969 to provide electronic warfare and aerial refueling support to carrier air wings. It was stationed at Naval Air Station Alameda. The Black Ravens first flew the Douglas EKA-3B Skywarrior and deployed to both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets.

In 1973, VAQ-135 relocated to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, and transitioned to their present aircraft, the Grumman EA-6B Prowler.

The squadron first deployed with the EA-6B to the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) and Indian Ocean from January to September 1976 with Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW-2) aboard USS Ranger (CV-61). Following that deployment, VAQ-135 transitioned to the Improved Capability Prowler (ICAP) and became the first fleet EA-6B ICAP squadron. The squadron deployed with Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8) aboard USS Nimitz from November 1977 to July 1978 to the Mediterranean Sea.

In January 1979, VAQ-135 commenced refresher training with Carrier Air Wing 15 (CVW-15) aboard USS Kitty Hawk and deployed to the Western Pacific in May 1979. During deployment, they received the Navy Expeditionary Medal for operations in the Indian Ocean during the Iranian hostage crisis, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, and their first Chief of Naval Operations Safety "S" Award. They again deployed with CVW-15 aboard USS Kitty Hawk from April to November 1981. VAQ-135 participated in several major exercises throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans and received a second Navy Expeditionary Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal for their participation in the rescue of Vietnamese refugees.