General Dynamics–Grumman EF-111A Raven

The General Dynamics–Grumman EF-111A Raven is a retired electronic-warfare aircraft designed to replace the EB-66 Destroyer in the United States Air Force.

The USAF contracted with Grumman in 1974 to convert some existing General Dynamics F-111As into electronic warfare/electronic countermeasures (ECM) aircraft.

[N 1] The USAF had considered the Navy / Marine Corps Grumman EA-6B Prowler, but desired a penetrating aircraft with supersonic speed.

[3] In January 1974, the Air Force awarded electronic warfare study contracts to Grumman and General Dynamics.

It was not capable of firing anti-radiation missiles in the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) role, which was a tactical limitation.

[14] However, it is disputed whether there was an enemy present at the time, as two F-15Es watched Ratchet 75 make violent evasive maneuvers and crash into the ground, with no hostile aircraft in the area.

[10] The last deployment of the Raven was a detachment of EF-111s stationed at Al Kharj/Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia until April 1998.

[7] Shortly afterward, the USAF began withdrawing the final EF-111As from service, and placed them in storage at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona.

[7] United States Air Force[16] Of the converted aircraft, three were destroyed in crashes, four are on display, and the other 35 were scrapped.

An EF-111A Raven in the foreground with a tail-mounted receiving pod and an underside-mounted transmitting pod, accompanied by an F-111F
An EF-111 flies over the Alps during Operation Deny Flight
No Coalition aircraft were lost to a radar-guided missile during Desert Storm while an EF-111 Raven was on station.
Jet aircraft with pointed nose parked on ramp.
EF-111, s/n 66–0057, on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio
EF-111 s/n 66-0049, on display at Mountain Home AFB, ID