Vietnam-Era Aircraft Combatting Roadside Bombs In Iraq

San Diego Union-Tribune

June 15, 2007

Vietnam-Era Aircraft Combatting Roadside Bombs In Iraq

By Jim Krane, Associated Press

ABOARD THE CARRIER NIMITZ IN THE GULF – A secret aircraft that debuted in Vietnam and usually protects U.S. fighter jets has taken on a different and crucial task over Iraq – trying to stop roadside bombs by jamming ground signals from mobile phones and garage door openers.

The EA-6B Prowler is thought to be one of the most effective U.S. weapons against the bombs, the biggest killer of U.S. service members in Iraq. But no one can be sure: Even supporters say its effectiveness is hard to measure.

The aircraft had its debut at the tail end of Vietnam and was used in Kosovo and the 1991 Persian Gulf War, escorting U.S. attack jets while jamming hostile military radios, radars and air defense batteries.

These days the Prowler focuses its jammers on smaller signals: those of mobile phones and garage-door openers used to trigger roadside bombs in Iraq, U.S. Navy Capt. David Woods said.

Often, it's hard to prove that a roadside bomb failed to explode because of Prowler jamming signals, Woods said. Still, he's confident the plane is making a difference against the bombs, which the military calls improvised explosive devices, or IEDs.

“When it's flying, we have greater success and fewer IEDs going off,” Woods said.

But its jamming gear has no effect on bombs that are hard-wired to their triggers, said Woods, 49, of Ogden, Utah.

Woods, commander of Carrier Air Wing 11 and one of the Navy's most experienced Prowler pilots, said the EA-6B's mission is to control the electromagnetic spectrum so allies can use it – but not enemies.

The Prowler and its electronic warfare system is so valuable it has never been exported – even to close allies. Details about the training of crew members are secret.

The EA-6B's bulbous nose cradles a crew of four: a pilot and three electronic countermeasures officers who operate the jamming gear.

The Pentagon is spending $9 billion to replace the Prowler with 90 Boeing F/A-18 fighters outfitted with electronic warfare gear. The first two, known as the EA-18G Growler, are being tested.