This request called for a 'close air support attack bomber capable of hitting the enemy at any time'. It released a request for proposals (RFP) in February 1957. Navy published an operational requirement document for it in October 1956. Thus, when the A-6E was scheduled for retirement, its precision strike mission was initially taken over by the Grumman F-14 Tomcat equipped with a LANTIRN pod.Īs a result of the fair-weather limitation of the propeller-driven Skyraider in the Korean War and the advent of turbine engines, the United States Navy issued preliminary requirements in 1955 for an all-weather carrier-based attack aircraft. The A-6 was intended to be superseded by the McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II, but this program was ultimately canceled due to cost overruns. It was deployed during various overseas conflicts, including the Vietnam War and the Gulf War. Two of the more successful variants developed were the EA-6B Prowler, a specialized electronic warfare derivative, and the KA-6D tanker version. The A-6 was in service with the United States Navy and Marine Corps between 19, during which time multiple variants were prototyped and produced. On 19 April 1960, the first prototype made its maiden flight.

In addition to conventional munitions, it could also carry nuclear weapons, which would be delivered using toss bombing techniques. Operated by a crew of two in a side-by-side seating configuration, the workload was divided between the pilot and weapons officer (bombardier/navigator (BN)). The Intruder was the first Navy aircraft with an integrated airframe and weapons system. The winning proposal from Grumman used two Pratt & Whitney J52 turbojet engines. The requirement allowed one or two engines, either turbojet or turboprop. It was to replace the piston-engined Douglas A-1 Skyraider. It was designed in response to a 1957 requirement issued by the Bureau of Aeronautics for an all-weather attack aircraft for Navy long-range interdiction missions and with short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability for Marine close air support. The Grumman A-6 Intruder is an American twinjet all-weather attack aircraft developed and manufactured by American aircraft company Grumman Aerospace and operated by the U.S.

Intruder combat training 3