Wed, Nov 05, 2003
19 Down (Temporarily), 24 To Go
Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)
removed 19 EA-6B "Prowlers" from service Sept. 23, for repairs and
maintenance due to structural fatigue damage, with 24 additional
aircraft to follow within two months.
The reduction in active aircraft inventory is the result of
recently completed engineering evaluations of structural health and
reduced risk-to-tolerance commensurate with world events. The Navy
continues to optimize available EA-6B resources to best support
current operational and training requirements, while keeping
crew-safety the top priority.
The number of Prowlers will be reduced from 95 to 71 until
spring, primarily to induct high fatigue aircraft with Wing Center
Sections and Outer Wing Panels issues into depot maintenance for
wing replacement.
Currently, the EA-6B is the most capable and only tactical
electronic attack aircraft in DoD inventory. The Navy has worked
very closely with other services to balance joint and naval
operational requirements against available EA-6B aircraft.
According to NAVAIR officials, the road ahead involves the
carefully designed disestablishment of one of the Navy's four
expeditionary squadrons, which dually provides an opportunity to
achieve force reductions, while still fulfilling all joint and
naval requirements.
The new breakdown of squadrons would include Navy Carrier
Squadrons (30 aircraft), Navy Expeditionary Squadrons (9 aircraft),
Marine Expeditionary Squadrons (15), Fleet Replacement (13), Navy
Reserve (2) and Testing (2 aircraft). All of these initiatives are
to help sustain the EA-6B fleet until the introduction of the
highly anticipated EA-18G beginning 2009.
The EA-6B could return to pre-Operation Iraqi Freedom numbers in
approximately 24 months. The Navy remains committed to providing
electronic warfare capability to combatant commanders to support
ongoing real-world requirements. [ANN Thanks Journalist 2nd Class
Kimberly Rodgers, Navy News Service, for the report]
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