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Platform of the Week: A-6E Intruder |
The Grumman-built A-6E Intruder was the U.S. Navy's carrier-based all-weather, day or night, medium attack aircraft from 1970-97. It carried a tremendous amount of ordnance of all types, up to about 18,000 pounds. The A-6's wide array of air-to-ground sensors gave it phenomenal targeting accuracy. It could attack heavily defended ship and ground targets, but needed be escorted by fighters and jamming aircraft if possible because of its limited air-to-air capability. In terms of range and striking power, the land-based Soviet Su-24 Fencer is similar to the A-6E. The earlier designed British Buccaneer also has a similar role.
Although early version of the Intruder saw service as early a 1963, the E variant was introduced in 1970 and saw service until 1997. Combat tested, it saw action in Vietnam, Lebanon, Operation El Dorado Canyon, Desert Storm, Operation Restore Hope and in Bosnia.
A-6E Sensors include:
- AAS-33 TRAM Infrared
- AN/ALA-126 jammer
- AN/ALR-67 ESM
- AM/APQ-156 radar
A-6E Intruder specs:
- Maximum speed: 563 kn (648 mph, 1,040 km/h)
- Range: 2,819 NM (3,245 mi, 5,222 km)
- Service ceiling: 40,600 ft (12,400 m)
- Rate of climb: 7,620 ft/min (38.7 m/s)
- Lift-to-drag ratio: 15.2
See artwork of the Grumman A-6E on the Gallery page.
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