AEROMEDIA
The Italian Aerospace Information Web
by Aeromedia - corso Giambone 46/18 - 10135 Torino (Italy)

OPERATION ALLIED FORCE
OPERATION DECISIVE EDGE (1996)
VMAQ-2, US Marine Corps

The VMAQ-2, together with VMAQ-3, forms the pair of Marine Corps air units devoted to tactical electronic warfare; each of them operates two squadrons equipped with five Grumman EA-6B Prowlers.
VMAQ-2 began training on EA-6B in September 1977 at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, and deployed in late 1978.
The Grumman EA-6B Prowler is the advanced ECM version of the EA-6 Intuder, with increased fuselage length to house two more systems operators (total crew members 4).
The prototype Prowler flew for the first time on 25 May 1968 and the mission equipments have been progressively upgraded to the latest standard.

In the picture: EA-6B Prowler 159587 of VMAQ-2 of the Marine Corps taking off at Aviano during Operation Decisive Edge over Bosnia. AN/ALQ-99F tactical jamming system pods are visible under the wings and fuselage; the large fin-top fairing houses long range receivers for radar emissions.

(Aeromedia, May 1999)

Operation Decisive Edge
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Operation Allied Force