Grumman A-6 Intruder
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Grumman A-6 Intruder
Role:
Carrier-based all-weather attack aircraft, with tanker
variant.
DESIGN FEATURES:
Wing sweepback 25 degrees at quarter-chord; outer wing
panels fold upward more than 90 degrees for stowage;
TRAM ball under nose, aft of radome. Survivability
improvements incorporated; fire extinguishing system
(halon) inerting fuel tanks; fire suppression in areas
around fuselage fuel tanks wing dry foam blocks; and
self-sealing fuel lines in engine cavities.
FLYING CONTROLS:
Hydraulic fully powered controls; slab tailplane;
lateral control spoilers ahead of near-full-span Fowler
flaperons; split surface airbrakes in trailing-edge
outboard of flaperons; sharp-edged leading-edge stall
strip next to fuselage with fixed drop section
outboard, then long-span leading-edge slats. Fences
near wingroot and near tip.
STRUCTURE:
Conventional all-metal; graphite/epoxy wing being
retrofitted; aluminium alloy control surfaces and
titanium high strength fittings, such as wing-fold.
LANDING GEAR:
Hydraulically retractable tricycle type. Twin-wheel
nose unit retracts rearward. Single-wheel main units
retract forward and inward into air intake fairings.
A-frame arrester hook under rear fuselage; nose-tow
catapult fitting.
POWER PLANT:
Two 41.4 kN (9300 lb st) Pratt & Whitney J52-P-408
turbojets. Replacement by two 53.4 kN (12000 lb st)
J52-P-409s under study. Max internal fuel capacity 8873
litres (2344 US gallons; 1952 Imp gallons). Provision
for up to five external fuel tanks under wing and
centreline stations, each of 1135 litres (300 US
gallons; 250 Imp gallons) or 1514 litres (400 US
gallons; 333 Imp gallons) capacity. Removable flight
refuelling probe projects upward immediately forward of
windscreen.
ACCOMMODATION:
Crew of two on Martin-Baker GRU7 ejection seats, which
can be reclined to reduce fatigue during low-level
operations. Bombardier/navigator slightly behind and
below pilot to starboard. Hydraulically operated
rearward sliding canopy.
AVIONICS:
Single Norden AN/APQ-148 or AN/APQ-156 simultaneous
multi-mode nav/attack radar. IBM and Fairchild
nav/attack computer system and interfacing data
converter. Conrac Corporation armament control unit.
RCA video tape recorder for post-strike assessment of
attacks; replacement unit by Precision Echo to be
retrofitted. Litton AN/ALR-67 radar warning receiver.
Radar provides simultaneous ground mapping;
identification, tracking, and rangefinding of fixed or
moving targets; and terrain clearance or
terrain-following manoeuvres. During 1981-83, it was
updated by an improved AMTI (airborne moving target
indication) to enhance its ability to detect moving
targets. IBM AN/ASQ-133 or AN/ASQ-155 solid-state
digital computer is coupled to A-6E's radar, inertial
and Doppler navigational equipment, communications and
AFCS. Fairchild signal data converter accepts analog
input data from up to 60 sensors, converting data to a
digital output that is fed into nav/attack system
computer. Conrac armament control unit (ACU) provides
all inputs and outputs necessary to select and release
weapons. Kaiser AN/AVA-1 multi-mode display serves as a
primary flight aid for navigation approach landing and
weapons delivery.
ARMAMENT:
Five weapon attachment points, each with a 1633 kg
(3600 lb) capacity (max external stores load 8165 kg;
18,000 lb). Typical weapon loads are 28 500 lb bombs in
clusters of six, or three 2000 lb general purpose bombs
plus two 1135 litre (300 US gallon; 250 Imp gallon)
drop tanks. AIM-9 Sidewinder can be carried for
air-to-air use. Harpoon missile capability added to
weapons complement of A-6E/TRAM. The HARM missile has
been test flown on the A-6E. Up to 20 Brunswick Defense
AN/ADM-141 TALD (Tactical Air-Launched Decoy) gliders,
or two in addition to normal bomb load. Flight and
firing tests have been carried out with the AGM-123A
Skipper II, also on an A-6E.
Aircraft Measures:
Length: 54 ft., 7 in.
Height: 16ft., 2 in.
Wingspan: 53 ft.
Loaded Weight: 60,400
Aircraft Performance:
Maximum Speed: 648 mph
Service Ceiling: 44,660 ft
Range: 1,080 miles
Thrust: 18,600 lbs