USMC prepares MAGTF EW to replace Prowler

[Zarvan]

Four EA-6B Prowlers belonging to each remaining Prowler squadron flew out of MCAS Cherry Point together to conduct a Final Four division flight on 1 March. This was the last time the Prowler squadrons would be flying together before the official retirement of Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron 1 at the end of FY 2016. Source: USMC Corporal N.W. Huertas
Key Points

• The USMC is preparing a system of electronic warfare capabilities on board several aircraft and other assets known as MAGTF EW
• Every MAGTF, large and small, will have an organic and persistent EW capability.

The US Marine Corps (USMC) is preparing a system of electronic warfare capabilities on board several aircraft and other assets known as Marine Air-Ground Task Force Electronic Warfare (MAGTF EW) to replace its retiring Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler electronic attack aircraft, a representative for the service said on 7 March.

"Under MAGTF EW the Marine Corps is leveraging emerging technologies and integrating multiple aviation platforms [unmanned, fixed-wing, tilt-rotor, and rotary-wing assets]; payloads; ground-based EW nodes; and cyber capabilities to provide commanders with an organic and persistent EW capability - for every MAGTF - large and small," Captain Sarah Burns told IHS Jane's .

The ALQ-231 Intrepid Tiger II (IT-II) airborne EW pods have deployed on board McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II jump jets and Boeing F/A-18 Hornet combat aircraft, according to Capt Burns.

"IT-II is currently completing testing on board the Bell UH-1Y Venom and will deploy once the test phase is complete," she added.

Potential future IT-II platforms include the Lockheed Martin KC-130J Hercules tanker-transport aircraft, the Bell-Boeing MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, the Bell AH-1Z Viper helicopter, and various unmanned aircraft.

On 1 March four Prowlers belonging to each of the final Prowler squadrons conducted a "Final Four" division flight out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina. Because of their high operational tempo, it is rare to see all four squadrons at a US base simultaneously, according to the USMC. The "Final Four" flight is the last time the Prowler squadrons will be flying together before the official retirement of Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron 1 at the end of fiscal year 2016 and the eventual transition to MAGTF EW.

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USMC prepares MAGTF EW to replace Prowler | IHS Jane's 360

 

[Sage]

Can we lay our hands on some of these ?

 

[Nattmara]

Can we lay our hands on some of these ?

No. These are advanced electronic warfare aircraft with serious jamming capabilities. They've never been exported to another nation.

Considering the US prefers to sell Pakistan equipment that can be used for policing or counterterrorism (not everything of course), and these aircraft serve no function in either, it's highly unlikely the US will export or sell them:

These are radar killers, damn good ones, but not really the type of gear the US would export to Pakistan - or anyone:

Same goes for the attack variant, the A-6, which is also retired.

If I were you, or a Pakistan Navy official, I'd try to get my hands of the S-3 Viking, for ASW. Considering India's progress on sub-surface warfare, this is a need of the PN:

They've been pitched to South Korea, doubt they'd be offered to Pakistan, but it never hurts to ask does it?

 

[Sage]

No. These are advanced electronic warfare aircraft with serious jamming capabilities. They've never been exported to another nation.

Considering the US prefers to sell Pakistan equipment that can be used for policing or counterterrorism (not everything of course), and these aircraft serve no function in either, it's highly unlikely the US will export or sell them:

These are radar killers, damn good ones, but not really the type of gear the US would export to Pakistan - or anyone:

Same goes for the attack variant, the A-6, which is also retired.

If I were you, or a Pakistan Navy official, I'd try to get my hands of the S-3 Viking, for ASW. Considering India's progress on sub-surface warfare, this is a need of the PN:

They've been pitched to South Korea, doubt they'd be offered to Pakistan, but it never hurts to ask does it?

Thanks for the elaborated details ...!

 

[Viper0011.]

No. These are advanced electronic warfare aircraft with serious jamming capabilities. They've never been exported to another nation.

Considering the US prefers to sell Pakistan equipment that can be used for policing or counterterrorism (not everything of course), and these aircraft serve no function in either, it's highly unlikely the US will export or sell them:

They've been pitched to South Korea, doubt they'd be offered to Pakistan, but it never hurts to ask does it?

Darn good platform of its time, but old as shiit now, sadly. Pakistan can use variations of P3C with certain electronic upgrades to them. Those would be better served in Pakistan's case as their EEZ (extended economic zone) is only 400 KM-ish and no CBG's.

They also have their JFT program which would eventually have variants like these, some for SEAD, some for anti-A2D, some for CAS, etc. The Chinese missiles (per their technical brochures) have ranges for anti-Radar missiles around 80-100 miles. Plus the Pakistanis also have a Western solution (or Semi Western, Mectron's M1-MAAR AR missile with a range of over 100 KM).

@Windjammer @MastanKhan @Irfan Baloch : any ideas on when Pakistan will be turning around the JFT program to produce indigenous Growlers / Prowlers / CAS focused specialized variants?