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General Dynamics–Grumman EF-111A Raven

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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. Its crews and maintainers often called it the "Spark-Vark", a play on the F-111's "Aardvark" nickname.

EF-111A Raven
An EF-111A Raven electronic warfare aircraft
General information
TypeElectronic warfare
ManufacturerGeneral Dynamics, conversion by Grumman
StatusRetired
Primary userUnited States Air Force
Number built42
History
Introduction date1983
First flight10 March 1977
Retired1998
Developed fromGeneral Dynamics F-111 Aardvark

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. The EF-111 entered service in 1983 and served until its retirement in 1998.

Design and development

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In the late 1960s, the U.S. Air Force sought to replace its aging EB-66 and EB-57 electronic warfare aircraft. The Air Force studied the use of Navy EA-6B Prowlers during 1967–1968.[2] However, the Air Force desired a penetrating electronic jamming aircraft with supersonic speed,[1][2] and, in 1972, decided to modify F-111As into electronic warfare aircraft as a cost-effective option.[3]

In January 1974, the Air Force awarded electronic warfare study contracts to Grumman and General Dynamics.[1] Grumman was selected as the EF-111 prime contractor in December 1974, then was awarded a contract to modify two F-111As into EF-111 prototypes in January 1975.[3] The first fully equipped model, known then as the "Electric Fox", flew on 10 March 1977. A total of 42 airframes were converted at a total cost of US$1.5 billion. The first EF-111s were deployed in November 1981 to the 388th Tactical Electronic Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.[4] The last was delivered in 1985.[5]

 
An EF-111A Raven in the foreground with a tail-mounted receiving pod and an underside-mounted transmitting pod, accompanied by an F-111F

The Raven retained the F-111A's navigation systems, with a revised AN/APQ-160 radar primarily for ground mapping. The primary feature of the Raven, however, was the AN/ALQ-99E jamming system, developed from the Navy's ALQ-99 on the Prowler. The aircraft also utilized the ALR-62 Countermeasures Receiving System (CRS) as a Radar Homing and Warning (RHAW) System, the same system carried by all F-111 fighter/bomber models in the United States and Australia. The ALQ-99E primary electronics were installed in the weapons bay, with transmitters fitted in a 16 feet (4.9 m) long ventral "canoe" radome; the complete installation weighed some 6,000 pounds (2,700 kg). Receivers were installed in a fin-tip pod, or "football", similar to that of the EA-6B. The aircraft's electrical and cooling systems had to be extensively upgraded to support this equipment. The cockpit was also rearranged, with all flight and navigation displays relocated to the pilot's side, and flight controls except throttles being removed from the other seat, where the electronic warfare officer's instrumentation and controls were installed.

The EF-111 was unarmed. Its speed and acceleration were its main means of self-defense. It was not capable of firing anti-radiation missiles in the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) role, which was a tactical limitation. The Raven's engines were upgraded to the more powerful TF30-P-9 of the D-model, with 12,000 pounds-force (53 kN) dry and 19,600 lbf (87 kN) afterburning thrust[6] in 1986.[7] From 1987 to 1994 the "Spark 'Vark" underwent an Avionics Modernization Program (AMP), similar to the Pacer Strike program for the F-model. This added a dual AN/ASN-41 ring laser gyroscope INS, AN/APN-218 Doppler radar, and an updated AN/APQ-146 terrain-following radar. Cockpit displays were upgraded with multi-function displays.

Operational history

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An EF-111 flies over the Alps during Operation Deny Flight

The EF-111A achieved initial operational capability in 1983.[8] The EF-111A received the official popular name Raven, although in service it acquired the nickname "Spark 'Vark". EF-111s first saw combat use with the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Upper Heyford during Operation El Dorado Canyon against Libya in 1986, and Operation Just Cause in Panama during late 1989.[9]

The Raven served in the Gulf War during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. On 17 January 1991, a USAF EF-111 crew of Captain James Denton and Captain Brent Brandon achieved an unofficial kill against an Iraqi Dassault Mirage F1, which they managed to maneuver into the ground, making it the only member of the F-111 family to achieve an aerial victory over another aircraft.[5][10]

 
No Coalition aircraft were lost to a radar-guided missile during Desert Storm while an EF-111 Raven was on station.

On 13 February 1991, EF-111A, AF Ser. No. 66-0023, call sign Ratchet 75, crashed[11] into terrain while maneuvering to evade a perceived threat.[12][13] killing the pilot, Capt Douglas L. Bradt, and the EWO, Capt Paul R. Eichenlaub. It was the only EF-111A lost during combat, the only loss killing its crew, and one of just three EF-111s lost during the aircraft's service.[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.[vague][15]

Later action

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EF-111s were deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy in support of Operation Deliberate Force during the mid-1990s. The Raven also flew missions in Operation Provide Comfort, Operation Northern Watch and Operation Southern Watch.[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. The last EF-111s were retired on 2 May 1998, at Cannon AFB, New Mexico. These were the final USAF F-111s in service.[7]

Variants

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EF-111A
Electronic warfare conversion of the F-111A, 42 conversions including two prototypes.

Operators

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  United States

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United States Air Force[16]

Tactical Air Command 1981–92
Air Combat Command 1992–98
42d Electronic Combat Squadron (1984–1992)
429th Electronic Combat Squadron (1992–1998)
430th Electronic Combat Squadron (1992–1993)
388th Electronic Combat Squadron (1981–1982)
390th Electronic Combat Squadron (1982–1992)

Aircraft on display

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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

Of the converted aircraft, three were destroyed in crashes, four are on display, and the other 35 were scrapped.[17][18]

Specifications (EF-111A)

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Specifications are for EF-111A except where noted.

Data from The Great Book of Modern Warplanes[23] General Dynamics F-111 "Aardvark"[24] Modern Fighting Aircraft[25]

General characteristics

  • Crew: Two: pilot and electronic warfare officer
  • Length: 76 ft 0 in (23.17 m)
  • Wingspan: 63 ft 0 in (19.2 m) spread, 32.0 ft (9.74 m) swept
  • Height: 20 ft 0 in (6.1 m)
  • Wing area: 657.4 sq ft (61.07 m2) spread, 525 sq ft (48.77) m2 swept
  • Airfoil: NACA 64-210.68 root, NACA 64-209.80 tip
  • Empty weight: 55,275 lb (25,072 kg)
  • Gross weight: 70,000 lb (31,751 kg) [26]
  • Max takeoff weight: 89,000 lb (40,370 kg)
  • Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0186 (F-111D)
  • Drag area: 9.36 ft2 (0.87 m2) (F-111D)
  • Aspect ratio: 7.56 unswept; 1.95 fully swept (F-111D)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-3 initially, later upgraded to TF30-P-9 turbofans with afterburner, 19,600 lbf (87 kN) thrust each (TF30-P-9)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 1,460 mph (2,350 km/h, 1,270 kn) ; above 30,000 ft
  • Maximum speed: Mach 2.2
  • Range: 2,000 mi (3,220 km, 1,740 nmi) [N 2]
  • Ferry range: 3,800 mi (6,110 km, 3,300 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 45,000 ft (13,715 m) [26]
  • Rate of climb: 11,000 ft/min (55.883 m/s) [26]
  • Thrust/weight: 0.598
  • Lift-to-drag ratio: 15.8 (F-111)

Avionics

See also

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Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Development of the EF-111A Raven ["Spark Varks"] began in 1974 when the Air Force awarded electronic warfare study contracts to Grumman and General Dynamics in January 1974.[1]
  2. ^ Note: 2,000 miles (1,740 nautical miles) for EF-111A.[27]

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c Thornborough and Davies 1989, p. 85.
  2. ^ a b Gunston 1983, p. 55.
  3. ^ a b Logan 1998, p. 89.
  4. ^ "F-111". Federation of American Scientists. 24 December 1998. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  5. ^ a b "EF-111A Raven." GlobalSecurity.org, 27 April 2005. Retrieved:1 April 2009.
  6. ^ Logan 1998, pp. 17, 92, 303.
  7. ^ a b c Baugher, Joe. "Grumman EF-111A Raven". USAAC/USAAF/USAF Fighters, 20 December 1999.
  8. ^ Gunston 1983, p. 59.
  9. ^ "366tg Fighter Wing History" Archived 15 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine. US Air Force
  10. ^ a b Logan 1998, pp. 89–90.
  11. ^ "The B-52 Gunners". January 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  12. ^ "Accident General Dynamics EF-111A Raven 66-0023, 14 Feb 1991".
  13. ^ Mailes, Yancy (2007). Mountain Home Air Force Base. Chicago: Arcadia Publishing. p. 112. ISBN 9780738548050.
  14. ^ YF-111A / F-111A / RF-111A / GF-111A tail no. Archived 14 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine F-111.net, 26 February 2005. Retrieved: 4 September 2012.
  15. ^ Olsen, John Andreas (2012). Air Commanders. Potomac Books, Inc.; 1st U.S. edition (1 November 2012). p. 325. ISBN 978-1612345765.
  16. ^ "USAF: Order of Battle, circa 1989 (Combat Units)." Archived 28 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine orbat.com. Retrieved: 9 December 2010.
  17. ^ "YF-111A / F-111A / RF-111A / GF-111A." Archived 14 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine F-111.net, 26 February 2005. Retrieved: 23 November 2013.
  18. ^ AMARC Experience Database – EF-111A, Scrapped HVF West, Tucson, AZ, Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  19. ^ Logan 1998, pp. 90, 93.
  20. ^ Cannon airpark to relocate Archived 23 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine – "EF-111 aircraft will be moved to the triangular, grassy area at the entrance of Joe Cannon Estates". 7 February 2013. Retrieved 10 Feb 2014.
  21. ^ EF-111A 66-0047 Archived 3 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Cactus Air Force. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  22. ^ "General Dynamics EF-111A Raven". National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  23. ^ Sweetman, Bill. The Great Book of Modern Warplanes. New York: Portland House, 1987 ISBN 0-517-63367-1.
  24. ^ Miller 1982, p. 66.
  25. ^ Gunston 1983, p. 64.
  26. ^ a b c Laur, Colonel Timothy M. and Steven L. Llanso. Encyclopedia of Modern U.S. Military Weapons New York: Berkley, 1995. ISBN 0-425-16437-3.
  27. ^ "F-111 Aardvark." GlobalSecurity.org, 27 April 2005. Retrieved: 1 April 2009.

Bibliography

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  • Eden, Paul, ed. "General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark/EF-111 Raven". Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft. London: Amber Books, 2004. ISBN 1-904687-84-9.
  • Gunston, Bill. F-111, Modern Fighting Aircraft, Vol. 3. New York: Salamander Books, 1983. ISBN 0-668-05904-4.
  • Logan, Don. General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military History, 1998. ISBN 0-7643-0587-5.
  • Miller, Jay. General Dynamics F-111 "Arardvark". Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers, 1982. ISBN 0-8168-0606-3.
  • Thornborough, Anthony M. and Peter E. Davies. F-111 Success in Action. London: Arms and Armour Press, 1989. ISBN 0-85368-988-1.
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