This Day in History: March 8, 2019

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by Simonov

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This Day in History

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On March 8, 2019, the last Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler is retired from military service. Based on the A-6 Intruder attack aircraft, the Prowler was an electronic warfare aircraft fielded by the US Navy and Marine Corps. While the Prowler's primary role is to interfere with and disrupt enemy electronics, such as radar and radio communications, it can also gather electronic intelligence as well carry anti-radiation missiles capable of homing in on hostile radar. The aircraft entered operational service in 1971 with the US Navy and was soon deployed to Vietnam. In the decades which followed, the EA-6B has seen service in such operations as the invasion of Grenada, Operation El Dorado Canyon (attack against Libya), Operation Desert Storm, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Operation Inherent Resolve (campaign against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria). The last Prowlers in US Navy service were withdrawn in June 2015 while the last in US Marine Corps service were retired March 8, 2019, marking the end of nearly 50 years of US military service. The EA-18G Growler, an electronic warfare variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet multi-role fighter aircraft, currently serves as the Prowler's replacement.

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