[5] Although designed as an electronic warfare and command-and-control aircraft for air strike missions, the EA-6B was also capable of attacking some surface targets on its own, in particular enemy radar sites and surface-to-air missile launchers.

By the twenty-first century, efforts to eventually replace the EA-6B had been launched, such as the abortive Common Support Aircraft initiative.

The type's final overseas deployment occurred in late 2014; the EA-6B was withdrawn from U.S. Navy service in June 2015 while the U.S. Marine Corps retired its last aircraft in March 2019.

By the 1960s, the United States Marine Corps (USMC) was operating several aging Electronic countermeasure (ECM) platforms, including the EF-10B Skyknight and AD Skyraider.

During December 1965, the EA-6A entered squadron service with the USMC; shortly thereafter, it saw action in Operation Rolling Thunder during the Vietnam War.

[6] The majority of these EA-6As were retired from service in the 1970s; the final handful of aircraft were operated by two electronic attack "aggressor" squadrons of the United States Navy (USN).

During 1966, development of the EA-6B, a substantially redesigned and more advanced model, commenced as a replacement for the EKA-3B Skywarriors then being operated by the United States Navy.

The redesign included the lengthening of the forward fuselage to create a rear area that accommodated a larger four-seat cockpit while an antenna fairing was added to the tip of the vertical stabilizer.

[6] The EA-6B was powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney J52 turbojet engines, which enable it to attain high subsonic speeds.

[7] The Advanced Capability EA-6B Prowler (ADVCAP) was a development program initiated to improve the flying qualities of the EA-6B and to upgrade the avionics and electronic warfare systems.

The VEP added numerous changes to the aircraft to address deficiencies with the original EA-6B flying qualities, particularly lateral-directional problems that hampered recovery from out-of-control flight.

Changes included: The added modifications increased the aircraft gross weight approximately 2,000 lb (910 kg) and shifted the center of gravity 3% MAC aft of the baseline EA-6B.

In previous models, when operating at sustained high angles of attack, fuel migration would cause additional shifts in CG with the result that the aircraft had slightly negative longitudinal static stability.

Results of flight tests of the new configuration showed greatly improved flying qualities and the rearward shift of the CG had minimal impact.

[12] Northrop Grumman received contracts from the United States Navy to deliver new electronic countermeasures gear to Prowler squadrons; the heart of each ICAP III set consists of the ALQ-218 receiver and new software that provides more precise selective-reactive radar jamming and deception and threat location.

[13] The EA-6B Prowlers in service toward the end of its life were the ICAP III version, carrying the ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System.

[18][19][20] Design particulars included the refueling probe being asymmetrical, appearing bent to the right to improve pilot visibility over that of the A-6 Intruder.

During 4,600 flight hours, Prowlers fired over 150 AGM-88 HARM missiles, the majority of which were targeted at radars and communications nodes across Iraqi's integrated air defense system.

[27][30] Following the retirement of the EF-111 Raven in 1998, the EA-6B was the only dedicated aerial radar jammer aircraft of the United States Armed Forces, until the fielding of the Navy's EA-18G Growler in 2009.

[citation needed] In 2001, 124 Prowlers remained, divided between twelve Navy, four Marine, and four joint Navy-Air Force "Expeditionary" squadrons.

A Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) staff study recommended that the EF-111 Raven be retired to reduce the types of aircraft dedicated to the same mission, which led to an Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) program memorandum to establish 4 land based "expeditionary" Prowler squadrons to meet the needs of the Air Force.

The Prowlers were the first Marine Corps aircraft in Syria, where they were involved in strike packages, air drops, and electronic warfare requirements against militants.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies suggested that the Prowlers may be used to prevent Russian and Syrian air defense systems from tracking U.S. and coalition aircraft.

[46] The Marine Corps' four members of VAMQ-2 flew the last EA-6B on its final flight on 14 March 2019 from their station at Cherry Point, North Carolina, to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

[75] In 1998, a memorial at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island was dedicated to 44 crew members lost in EA-6B aircraft accidents.