EA-18G vs ES-3

"John R Weiss" wrote in message
news:9f6%b.408640$na.796343@attbi_s04...
"fudog50" wrote...
You really are out of the loop R.David.

1.) The Prowler was never a a SIGINT/ELINT platform and never
will be, nor will the "Growler".

Maybe you are the one out of the loop... The Prowler has significant
SIGINT/ELINT capabilities, even though it is not a "dedicated" SIGINT
platform.
When I was flying Standard ARM equipped A-6s in the early 80s, we worked
closely
with the Prowlers to develop tactical capabilities in those regimes. Even
the
AWG-21 system in the A-6 had some SIGINT/ELINT capability (better with the
missile seeker)...

The Prowler's SIGINT capability is nil. There is almost no analysis
capabilty nor does there need to be. Sending info to a *ARM isn't the same
thing as ELINT/SIGINT. Even the shipboard system I worked wasn't considered
a full blown SIGINT/ELINT system without a few add on's and even then it
wasn't a preferred platform. To really do SIGINT/ELINT, you need receivers
that are very sensitive and can measure incredibly minute differences in
signals. The ALQ-99 and other EW platforms can pick out signals but they
don't need the razor accuracy of a ELINT receiver. Take a look at the
equipment that was in the ES-3 and look at the ALQ-99, they are completely
different systems. When the Navy gave up the ES-3, they gave up tactical
airborne ELINT.