The Grumman EF-111A Raven (ICAO: F111 / WAKE: MEDIUM) is an electronic warfare aircraft. Created in Second Life by Amok Dynamics, the aircraft was based on the real-life EF-111A Raven developed by Grumman for the United States Air Force (USAF) from General Dynamics' F-111 Aardvark.
Background
The real-life EF-111A Raven was often called "Spark-Vark" by its crews and maintainers, a play on the F-111's "Aardvark" nickname. The USAF contracted with Grumman in 1974 to convert some existing General Dynamics F-111As into electronic warfare/electronic countermeasures (ECM) aircraft. The USAF had considered the Navy / Marine Corps Grumman EA-6B Prowler, but was reluctant to adopt a Navy aircraft. The EF-111 entered service in 1983 and served until it was retired in 1998. Afterwards, the Air Force began depending on Navy and Marine Corps EA-6Bs for electronic warfare support.
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 EA-6B 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.[1]
Features
- Pilot's heads-up display (HUD) attachment.
- Animated components (variable-sweep wings, flaps, rudder, ailerons, landing gear and canopy).
- VICE combat system with:
- Electronic Counter Measures (ECM): Ability to jam guided missiles in a region.
- Emergency ejection system.
Images
.png "Grumman EF-111A Raven (AMOK).png (553 KB)")
References
- ↑ General Dynamics/Grumman EF-111A Raven (English). Wikipedia. Retrieved on 2015-03-15.