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A-6E Intruder

Two A-6E Intruders in flight.

The Grumman A-6 Intruder was an American carrier-based attack aircraft that served with the United States Navy and Marine Corps. It was developed by the Grumman Aerospace Corporation, and can also be used as an aerial refueling aircraft.

History[]

The A-6 was designed to meet a requirement set by the US Navy in 1955 for an all-weather attack aircraft. It was selected out of a group of proposals from various aircraft manufacturers on January 2nd, 1958, and first flew on April 19th, 1960 as prototype YA2F-1. After several modification, the Intruder entered service in February, 1963.

The A-6 first entered combat during the Vietnam War, during which they were used effectively against ground targets. However, they were highly suceptible to ground fire, which led to over 80 being lost over the course of the war. The Intruder continued to be used in later conflicts, including the Lebanese Civil War and Operation Desert Storm, but gradually became more obsolete. The Intruder was finally retired in 1997, being replaced by the F-14 Tomcat. However, an electronic warfare variant of the aircraft named the EA-6B Prowler is still in service.

Specifications[]

  • Powerplant: two Pratt & Whitney J52-P8B engines
  • Maximum speed: 648 mph
  • Range: 3,245 miles
  • Service ceiling: 40,600 feet
  • Crew: 2
  • Empty weight: 25,630 lbs
  • Length: 54 feet 7 inches
  • Height: 15 feet 7  inches
  • Wingspan: 53 feet
  • Armament: 5 hardpoints capable of carrying rockets, missles, bombs, or drop tanks.
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