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	Director, Operational Test & Evaluation
	FY98 Annual Report

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010

The EA-6B "Prowler" aircraft contributes to the Joint Vision 2010 concept of full-dimensional protection by improving supported aircraft probability of survival through its contribution to the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) Electronic Attack (EA) mission.

The EA-6B is a four-seat, all weather, twin turbojet powered, tactical EA aircraft designed to operate from aircraft carriers and airfields ashore. Its primary mission is the interception, analysis, identification, and jamming of enemy weapons control and communications systems in support of joint offensive and defensive operations. High priority EA missions include SEAD by denying, delaying, or degrading the enemy's ability to detect and target friendly forces. The crew includes one pilot and three electronic countermeasures officers. The EA-6B carries the AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System (TJS). The TJS on-board system (OBS) includes the receiver, processor, and aircrew interfaces. The TJS also includes a selection of mission configured jammer pods carried as external stores. Each jammer pod contains a ram air turbine generator, two selectable transmitter modules with associated antennas, and a universal exciter that is interfaced with and controlled by the OBS and aircrew. The modular open architecture of the jammer system, which facilitates optimizing transmitters and antennas for a given frequency range, also facilitates tailored mission configurations. The EA-6B also has the USQ-113 Communications Jammer and is armed with high-speed anti-radiation missiles (HARM).

The EA-6B has been operational since 1972. It has undergone a number of upgrade programs: Expanded Capability, Improved Capability (ICAP), and Improved Capability II (ICAP II). ICAP II was adjudged operationally effective and suitable and was installed on operational aircraft in Operation Desert Storm. Major upgrades included HARM capability and updated communications.

A major set of upgrades, designated Advanced Capability (ADVCAP) was in Full Scale Development in FY93. These included on-board system upgrades and substantial changes to the aircraft itself. ADVCAP warfighting improvements included a new receiver processor system, the AN/ALQ-149 Communications Jammer, a new band 2/3 transmitter, and an upgrade to the universal exciter. Also included was a major aircraft avionics upgrade and airframe and engine improvements. IOT&E (OT IIA) of the warfighting improvements on ADVCAP was completed in 1QFY94. The ADVCAP program was excluded from the FY95 Navy budget submission and was subsequently canceled.

The current EA-6B upgrade program includes:

• Sustainment: Funding levels support changing all aircraft to a Block 89A configuration; however, the program office and the OPNAV sponsor are reviewing the configuration mix to optimize inventory. The Block 89A configuration brings all aircraft to a common baseline including structural and safety of flight, computer, navigation system, and communications upgrades.



• Improvements: Essential warfighting capability improvements include the Universal Exciter Upgrade (UEU), the Band 9/10 transmitter (transferred to the Navy from the canceled EF-111, and the Low Band Transmitter (LBT), all of which are modular upgrades for use with the AN/ALQ-99 jamming pods. In addition, there is an ongoing USQ-113/Connectivity Upgrade program that provides aircrew with improved situational awareness and the ability to receive and jam communications signals. Situational reception is via a Multi-Mission Advanced Tactical Terminal and the Integrated Data Modem. Until the ICAP III program is fielded, a laptop computer that does not interface with on-board systems will control the situational awareness and Communications Receiver/Jammer capabilities.



• ICAP III: Develops and procures a new tactical receiver that enhances the reactive jamming capability of the EA6-B to replace aging, 1960s designed receivers. Additionally, the ICAP III systems integrate the above mentioned situational awareness systems and USQ-113 Communications Receiver/Jammer displays with the aircraft on-board systems. A new Controls and Display Suite replaces an existing system for the two rear cockpit operators and is made available to the pilot and right-front cockpit, allowing improved crew operations of the aircraft. Provisions for Link-16, via the Multi-Functional Information Distribution System are included. The current plan is to transition all EA6-B aircraft to the ICAP III configuration by 2010.

The UEU program completed OPEVAL and was found to be operationally effective and suitable. It achieved Milestone (MS) III in 2QFY96, and entered full-rate production in 4QFY96. The Band 9/10 transmitter completed DT in June 1997 and the OPEVAL was conducted between July-August 1997. The independent DOT&E evaluation results of "effective" and "potentially suitable" closely parallel the OPTEVFOR evaluation of the same data. FOT&E are required to evaluate compatibility of a new radome for use with the Band 9/10 transmitter prior to fleet fielding. This radome is intended to resolve the potential for damage of the current radomes by the Band 9/10 XMTR. Band 9/10 XMTR MS III was achieved in 1QFY98.