How the A-6 Intruder Changed Naval Warfare Forever

The Grumman A-6 Intruder is a twinjet all-weather, multirole attack aircraft developed by Grumman Aerospace (now Northrop Grumman) for the United States Navy. Here are some key features and facts about the A-6 Intruder:

Design and Development

1. First flight: April 19, 1960

2. Entered service: February 1963

3. Retired: April 1997 (US Navy)

4. Manufacturer: Grumman Aerospace (now Northrop Grumman)

Characteristics

1. Crew: 2 (pilot and bombardier/navigator)

2. Length: 54 feet 7 inches (16.64 meters)

3. Wingspan: 53 feet 2 inches (16.21 meters)

4. Height: 15 feet 6 inches (4.72 meters)

5. Empty weight: 25,630 pounds (11,630 kilograms)

6. Max takeoff weight: 50,000 pounds (22,680 kilograms)

7. Engines: 2 × Pratt & Whitney J52-P-8B turbojets, 9,300 pounds-force (41.4 kilonewtons) thrust each

8. Speed: 645 mph (1,038 km/h)

9. Range: 3,225 miles (5,190 kilometers)

10. Service ceiling: 40,600 feet (12,375 meters)

Armament and Avionics

1. Armament: Up to 18,000 pounds (8,165 kilograms) of bombs, missiles, and rockets

2. Avionics: AN/APQ-112 attack radar, AN/APG-78 Side-Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR), and AN/ASN-31 inertial navigation system

Variants
1. A-6A: Initial production version

2. A-6B: Version with improved avionics and radar

3. A-6C: Version with improved radar and targeting systems

4. A-6E: Final production version with improved avionics and radar

5. A-6F: Proposed version with new engines and avionics (canceled)

6. EA-6B Prowler: Electronic warfare version

Operators

1. United States Navy: Primary operator
2. United States Marine Corps: Operated the A-6 Intruder from 1963 to 1993

Service History

1. Vietnam War: A-6 Intruders saw extensive service during the Vietnam War, conducting bombing missions and providing close air support.

2. Gulf War: A-6 Intruders participated in Operation Desert Storm, conducting bombing missions and providing close air support.

3. Other conflicts: A-6 Intruders also saw service in various other conflicts, including the Lebanese Civil War and the Grenada Revolution.

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