Aerospace Daily
February 14, 2002

Prowler Engine Problems Seen Underscoring Need For New Aircraft

Recent engine problems with the Navy Department's EA-6B Prowler underscore the need to replace the aging weapon system, the U.S. military's only radar-jamming support aircraft, according to Navy Secretary Gordon England.

England, who testified Feb. 12 at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the fiscal 2003 budget, did not describe the engine problems. A spokesman for Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) told The DAILY that 11 J52 engines on the twin-engine Prowler have failed recently due to bearing problems, six while undergoing maintenance and five while in flight. Two of the five were on Prowlers that crashed in November - one from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., the other from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.

The engine failures and a review of maintenance records have led the Navy to begin inspecting 43 additional Prowler J52 engines that could have similar bearing problems, the NAVAIR spokesman said. Nine of the 43 engines were on seven deployed aircraft, 16 were on 16 non-deployed aircraft, and 18 were not installed.

England also noted that many of the Prowler's wing center sections have experienced cracking. The Navy has begun replacing those sections.

The Pentagon recently completed an Analysis of Alternatives to examine options for replacing the Prowler, which is scheduled to begin entering retirement in about 2010. England singled out the EA-18, the electronic attack version of the Navy's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, as one of the options the service is considering for a Prowler follow-on.

-- Marc Selinger