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]

FMI: www.navy.mil. www.navair.mil