Original subtitles

Narrator: WHAT THEY DO IS INVISIBLE...

UNTRACEABLE...

AND HIGHLY CLASSIFIED.

Man: IT'S BEEN A CLANDESTINE, CLASSIFIED WARFARE AREA

FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

Narrator: THEIR ENEMIES CALL THEIR WORK "BLACK MAGIC."

Man: ELECTRONIC WARFARE

CAN BE MORE OF AN ART THAN A SCIENCE.

Narrator: ELECTRONIC WAR AIRCRAFT

ARE THE FIRST LINE OF ATTACK.

Man: THE DECISION HAD BEEN MADE THAT EVERY STRIKE SORTIE

WOULD HAVE ELECTRONIC ATTACK ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

Narrator: BUT THEIR INVISIBILITY MAY BE THEIR UNDOING.

Man: ELECTRONIC WARFARE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HARD SELL.

Narrator: THE FUTURE OF WARFARE IS MORE THAN BULLETS AND BOMBS.

TOMORROW'S VICTORS MUST DOMINATE WITH FORCE

AND FREQUENCY.

2011.

BENGHAZI, LIBYA.

A FIERCE CIVIL CONFLICT HAS BEEN RAGING FOR TWO YEARS.

ANTI-GOVERNMENT REBELS ARE DEAD-SET ON DEMOCRACY.

THEY DEMAND THAT DICTATOR MOAMMAR GADHAFI

RESIGN FROM OFFICE.

HE REFUSES TO GO.

IN FEBRUARY, THE VIOLENCE ESCALATES.

GADHAFI'S TROOPS BEGIN A SERIES OF AIR STRIKES

AGAINST FLEEING CIVILIANS.

IT'S MORE THAN THE REST OF THE WORLD CAN TOLERATE.

President Obama: THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

WILL IMPOSE CONSEQUENCES,

AND THE RESOLUTION WILL BE ENFORCED

THROUGH MILITARY ACTION.

Narrator: THE UNITED STATES MILITARY

DEPLOYS DOZENS OF AIRCRAFT TO ASSIST IN THE MISSION,

INCLUDING A BRAND-NEW NAVY AIRCRAFT,

THE EA-18G GROWLER.

IT STREAKS TOWARD THE VIOLENCE IN TRIPOLI.

MOST COMBAT AIRCRAFT FIGHT IN THE PHYSICAL DOMAIN.

BUT THE GROWLER BATTLES IN A REALM

THAT'S INVISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE...

THE ELECTRONIC SPECTRUM.

Scott Chuda: THIS HERE IS THE EA-18 GROWLER,

PRIMARY MISSION IS AIRBORNE ELECTRONIC ATTACK.

Narrator: THE EA-18G GROWLER

IS A KEY PART OF EVERY AIR ATTACK SQUADRON.

ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE:

TO SHUT DOWN THE ENEMY'S RADAR.

Chuda: THE MAIN JOB OF THE GROWLER

IS TO DENY OR DELAY

THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES FOR AN ENEMY RADAR

TO PICK UP OUR FRIENDLY BRETHREN OUT THERE.

Narrator: ONE WAY THE GROWLER DOES THAT

IS BY DOING SOMETHING CALLED "JAMMING."

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:

THE GROWLER HAS A RECEIVER ON EACH WINGTIP.

THESE RECEIVERS SEARCH OUT THE RADAR SIGNALS

ON THE ENEMY'S SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES.

THE INFORMATION TRAVELS TO A COMPUTER

IN THE GROWLER'S COCKPIT.

WITHIN MILLISECONDS,

THE COMPUTER ANALYZES THE SIGNALS

AND IDENTIFIES THEM AS SAFE OR A THREAT.

IF THEY'RE A THREAT,

THE GROWLER ACTIVATES ONE OF ITS JAMMING PODS.

Chuda: PER THE CONFIGURATION, WE CAN HAVE UP TO THREE...

ONE ON EACH WING, AND THEY'LL BE THE SAME.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE ONE HERE ON THE CENTER LINE.

Narrator: THE JAMMING PODS OVERWHELM THE ENEMY'S RADAR

BY SENDING OUT ELECTRONIC NOISE.

THIS ALLOWS FRIENDLY FIGHTERS TO SNEAK UNSEEN PAST ENEMY LINES.

Chuda: WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS, USING JAMMING,

PREVENT THEM FROM ACTUALLY SEEING WHERE WE ARE.

Narrator: THE GROWLER DOESN'T JUST JAM THE ENEMY;

IT CAN INFLICT PHYSICAL DAMAGE, TOO.

Chuda: OUR PRIMARY MISSION IS JAMMING.

HOWEVER, SECONDARY MISSION WE HAVE

IS USING THE HARM, AS YOU SEE HERE ON THE WING.

Narrator: HARM STANDS FOR HIGH SPEED ANTI-RADIATION MISSILE.

IT'S SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO HONE IN

ON THE SURFACE-TO-AIR RADAR'S ELECTRONIC SIGNALS.

Chuda: THE HARM ZONES IN ON WHERE THE ENEMY RADAR IS

AND THEN LOOKS TO EXPLODE OVER IT.

Narrator: THE EA-18G GROWLER

IS THE MOST ADVANCED ELECTRONIC ATTACK AIRCRAFT

ON EARTH.

IT CAN LOCATE, JAM, AND DESTROY ENEMY RADAR,

ALL IN UNDER A MINUTE.

Chuda: THE GROWLER IS AN EXCELLENT PLATFORM HERE.

IT'S AWESOME TO FLY.

Narrator: LIBYA'S OPERATION ODYSSEY DAWN

IS THE PERFECT PROVING GROUND FOR THE NAVY'S NEW TOY.

Jay Matzko: IN MARCH OF 2011, IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE U.S.

WAS GOING TO PARTICIPATE WITH COALITION FORCES

TO ENFORCE A NO-FLY ZONE OVER LIBYA.

Narrator: COMMANDER JAY MATZKO WAS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER

OF THE NAVY'S ELECTRONIC ATTACK SQUADRON

IN OPERATION ODYSSEY DAWN.

Matzko: IN ORDER TO PROTECT FORCES IN LIBYA,

PROTECT THEM FROM ENEMY RADAR SYSTEMS

AND SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES,

THEY NEEDED THE GROWLERS.

Narrator: FOR THE ELECTRONIC WARFARE OFFICERS,

THE CALL COMES WITHOUT WARNING.

Matzko: THE DECISION TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN WAS VERY QUICK,

SO WE HAD ABOUT 24 HOURS TO GET THERE.

Narrator: WHEN THEY GET TO LIBYA,

THE GROWLERS WILL FACE A FORMIDABLE OPPONENT.

THE RADARS ON GADHAFI'S SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES

CAN LOCATE A TARGET UP TO 11,000 FEET.

Matzko: WE KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING AGAINST AN ADVERSARY

THAT WAS TRAINED TO SHOOT DOWN AIRPLANES

WITH SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES

AND THAT THEY HAD A GOOD NUMBER OF THEM.

Narrator: TWO YEARS AFTER REACHING OPERATIONAL STATUS,

THE AIRCRAFT IS STILL UNTESTED IN THE BATTLEFIELD.

Matzko: THERE WERE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR THE GROWLER

GOING ON ITS FIRST DEPLOYMENT.

THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

WATCHING HOW THEY WERE GOING TO DO IT IN COMBAT,

AND THERE WAS A LOT OF PRESSURE.

Narrator: MARCH 18, 2011.

COMMANDER MATZKO AND HIS WINGMAN

ARE PATROLLING THE LIBYAN COASTLINE

WHEN THEIR RADIO STARTS TO BUZZ.

Matzko: WE GOT THE CALL

THAT THERE WAS AN ENEMY SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE SITE,

OR SAM, THAT WAS POTENTIALLY ACTIVE.

THE LOCATION WAS A THREAT

TO OUR BOMB DROPPERS AND TO OUR FIGHTERS.

SO, WE GOT COORDINATES FOR IT, AND WE STARTED HEADING THAT WAY.

Narrator: MOMENTS LATER,

THE GROWLERS ARRIVE TO FIND A CROWDED SKY.

COALITION PLANES ARE IN A HOLDING PATTERN,

RELUCTANT TO TEST THE LIBYAN RADAR OPERATOR'S SKILL.

Matzko: THESE OPERATORS ARE PRETTY WELL-TRAINED.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT ANYBODY COULD STEP IN AND DO,

AND THEY'RE CONSTANTLY TRAINING, JUST LIKE WE ARE.

Narrator: THE LIBYANS HAVE PLACED THE SAM SITE

CLOSE TO THE COALITION'S TARGET:

AN AMMUNITION DUMP.

Matzko: THE ENEMY KNOWS WHAT THEIR HIGH-VALUE TARGETS ARE,

AND THEY WANT TO PREVENT US

FROM GETTING IN THERE AND DESTROYING THOSE TARGETS,

SO THEY WILL PUT SAM SITES

IN AND AROUND TARGETS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM.

Narrator: THE STRIKE PLANES HAVE FIREPOWER.

BUT THEY NEED THE GROWLER'S ELECTRONIC ATTACK

TO PUT THE MISSILE OUT OF SERVICE.

Matzko: ME AND MY WINGMAN WERE CALLED OVER TO JAM IT FIRST

AND THEN SHOOT HARM AT IT SO THAT WE COULD DESTROY IT.

Narrator: THE GROWLER'S FIRST CHALLENGE

IS TO IDENTIFY THE RADAR'S SIGNAL.

EXACTLY HOW IT DOES THAT IS TOP-SECRET.

Matzko: THE GROWLER CAN DO A LOT OF AMAZING THINGS,

MANY OF WHICH WE CAN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT.

Narrator: WHAT WE CAN SAY

IS THAT THE GROWLER SEES EVERYTHING

ON THE ELECTRONIC SPECTRUM,

BUT IT RELIES ON THE ELECTRONIC WARFARE OFFICER

TO SORT THROUGH THE NOISE.

Matzko: ELECTRONIC WARFARE

CAN BE MORE OF AN ART THAN A SCIENCE.

MANY THINGS CLUTTER THE AIRWAVES.

COULD BE RADIO SIGNALS, TV SIGNALS, SHIP RADARS...

THINGS YOU'RE NOT EVEN LOOKING FOR.

YOU DEFINITELY HAVE TO BE METICULOUS,

YOU HAVE TO BE FOCUSED,

AND YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO VERY QUICKLY WEED OUT WHAT IS BOGUS

AND GO FOR WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

Narrator: MATZKO HAS JUST ONE TARGET.

THE MISSILE HAS MANY MORE CHOICES.

Matzko: WE HAD COALITION AND U.S. F-15s,

F-18s, HARRIERS,

AND THEY'RE ALL FLYING IN A PRETTY SMALL AREA.

Narrator: THE GROWLERS KNOW

THEY DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO MAKE THEIR MOVE.

Matzko: DEPENDING ON THE SAM SYSTEM,

THE MISSILE FLY-OUT COULD BE TEN TO TWENTY SECONDS.

SO, IT'S VERY QUICK,

AND EVERYBODY HAS TO REALLY BE ON THEIR GUARD.

Narrator: CLUTTERED AIRWAVES...

A CROWDED SKY...

AND 10,000 FEET BELOW, A LIBYAN MISSILE POISED TO FIRE.

IT'S TIME TO SEE IF THE GROWLER CAN SORT THROUGH THE NOISE

AND BEAT THE MISSILE TO THE KILL.

COMMANDER JAY MATZKO TRIES DESPERATELY

TO BEAT A LIBYAN SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE TO THE PUNCH.

THE FATE OF DOZENS OF COALITION AIRCRAFT

IS IN HIS HANDS.

Matzko: WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE RELYING ON US

TO BLANK THE ENEMY RADARS,

AND IF THEY GET A MISSILE SHOT AT THEM,

IT COULD BE VERY QUICK, AND THEN THEY'LL BE KILLED.

Narrator: MATZKO'S WINGMAN LOCATES THE RADAR SIGNAL

AND STARTS TO JAM IT.

BESIDE HIM, MATZKO PREPARES HIS HARM MISSILE,

AND FIRES.

Matzko: WHEN YOU SHOOT OFF A HARM,

THE FIRST THING YOU FEEL IS A SHUDDER IN THE AIRCRAFT,

AND IT FLIES OFF INCREDIBLY FAST,

AND YOU SEE A SMOKE TRAIL THAT GOES OFF INTO THE DISTANCE,

AND THEN THE SMOKE TRAIL STOPS.

Narrator: WHEN THE SMOKE TRAIL STOPS,

SO DOES THE ENEMY RADAR'S SIGNAL.

Matzko: ONE OF THE WAYS

THAT WE'LL KNOW THAT WE HIT OUR TARGET

IS WHEN THE ENEMY SAM SITE STOPS TRANSMITTING.

Narrator: WITH THE THREAT DESTROYED,

COALITION FORCES MOVE IN AND STRIKE THE AMMUNITION DUMP.

Matzko: ONCE IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE SAM SITE WAS DESTROYED,

THESE GUYS COULD GO BACK TO THEIR MISSION.

Narrator: DETECTION, DISRUPTION, DESTRUCTION.

IT'S ALL IN A DAY'S WORK FOR AN ELECTRONIC WARFARE OFFICER.

Matzko: FLYING IN THE GROWLER IS AWESOME.

RIGHT FROM THE VERY TAKEOFF,

WHERE YOU'RE PUSHED BACK IN YOUR SEAT FROM THE AFTERBURNERS,

YOU TAKE OFF, AND YOU REALIZE

YOU'RE DOING A JOB, YOU'RE DOING A MISSION,

AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

Narrator: THE GROWLER

IS THE MOST COMPLICATED ELECTRONIC WARFARE AIRCRAFT

EVER CONCEIVED.

BUT ITS ULTRA-MODERN CAPABILITIES

COME FROM A TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED 80 YEARS AGO...

A TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT MILITARY DEVELOPMENT

OF THE CENTURY:

RADAR.

Roger Connor: ELECTRONIC WARFARE CAME OF AGE DURING WORLD WAR II.

BEFORE WORLD WAR II, RADAR WAS JUST IN ITS INFANCY.

Narrator: ROGER CONNOR IS A CURATOR

IN THE NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM'S AERONAUTICS DEPARTMENT.

Connor: AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR,

THE UNITED STATES, GREAT BRITAIN, AND GERMANY

HAD BEGUN TO REALLY DEVELOP RADAR.

Narrator: RADAR IS SEEING WITH RADIO WAVES.

IT USES THE WAVES TO DETECT OBJECTS

AND TO DETERMINE THEIR ALTITUDE, DIRECTION, AND SPEED.

FOR GREAT BRITAIN,

RADAR TECHNOLOGY ISN'T JUST A MATTER OF SCIENTIFIC INTEREST;

IT'S A NATIONAL EMERGENCY.

Connor: GREAT BRITAIN PURSUED RADAR

BECAUSE THEY SAW IT AS THE ONLY WAY OF STOPPING GERMAN BOMBERS

FROM REACHING THE CITIES OF ENGLAND.

RADAR ALLOWED BRITISH FIGHTERS TO INTERCEPT BOMBERS

BEFORE THEY COULD APPROACH THE BRITISH COASTLINE,

AND THAT GREATLY MINIMIZED

THE IMPACT OF THE GERMAN BOMBING RAIDS.

Narrator: THE ALLIES BEGIN THEIR OWN BOMBING OPERATIONS

AND SOON DISCOVER THAT THE GERMANS

HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING RADAR, TOO.

Connor: THE GERMANS HAD THEIR OWN RADAR.

AND SO, THE ALLIED AIR COMMANDERS REALIZED

THAT THEY HAD TO HAVE SOME COUNTERMEASURES

THAT WOULD MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT

FOR THOSE GERMAN RADARS

TO DETERMINE HOW MANY AIRCRAFT OR THEIR EXACT POSITION

AS THEY CAME INTO OCCUPIED EUROPEAN AIRSPACE.

Narrator: ALLIED SCIENTISTS WORK AROUND THE CLOCK.

SO DO THE GERMANS.

THE QUESTION ISN'T HOW TO BUILD THE RADAR,

BUT HOW TO OUTSMART THEM.

Connor: WORLD WAR II REALLY USHERED IN THE AGE

OF THE CAT-AND-MOUSE GAME OF ELECTRONIC WARFARE.

AS THE ALLIES WOULD INTRODUCE

ONE NEW COUNTERMEASURE TO GERMAN RADAR,

THE GERMANS WOULD COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO THAT.

Narrator: WINSTON CHURCHILL

CALLS THIS ELECTRONIC WARFARE EFFORT "THE WIZARD WAR."

WHOEVER COMES OUT ON TOP

WILL DETERMINE THE FATE OF THE FREE WORLD.

JUNE 6, 1944.

D-DAY.

THE ALLIES' LATEST ELECTRONIC WARFARE TECHNIQUES

ARE ABOUT TO BE PUT TO THE TEST.

Connor: THE ALLIES WERE FACING A HUGE NUMBER OF GERMAN RADARS,

AND THEY HAD TO NEUTRALIZE THEM

BY USING ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURES.

Narrator: ON THE NIGHT BEFORE D-DAY,

ALLIED COMMANDERS SEND TEN BOMBERS OUT

WITH AN UNUSUAL TASK:

TO FLY BACK AND FORTH ALONG THE ENGLISH CHANNEL,

DROPPING SOMETHING CALLED CHAFF.

Connor: CHAFF ARE THIN METAL STRIPS

THAT REFLECT THE ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY OF RADAR.

IT CREATED AN ECHO THAT WAS SIMILAR TO AN ACTUAL AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: THE TEN ALLIED BOMBERS CREATE A GHOST STREAM

OF HUNDREDS OF NON-EXISTENT AIRCRAFT.

Connor: THE GERMAN RADAR WOULD SEE ESSENTIALLY

A BLOOM OF RADAR ECHOES ON THEIR SCOPE.

SO, WERE THERE JUST TEN AIRCRAFT,

OR WERE THERE A HUNDRED?

THE GERMAN RADAR REALLY COULDN'T TELL.

Narrator: THE ELECTRONIC NOISE BLINDS GERMAN FORCES,

ALLOWING THE ALLIES TO SNEAK INTO NORMANDY

FOR THE GREATEST INVASION IN HISTORY.

Connor: WHEN THE FACTS ABOUT THE D-DAY OPERATION CAME OUT,

COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD REALIZED THAT ELECTRONIC WARFARE

WAS NOW GOING TO PROVIDE A DECISIVE ADVANTAGE.

Narrator: 1960. THE PENTAGON.

THE BATTLE OF THE BEAMS TAKES A COLD-WAR TURN.

THE UNITED STATES CAN'T AVOID THE SOVIET RADARS.

SO IT BUILDS PLANES THAT FLY TOO HIGH

FOR ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS TO REACH.

Connor: WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE COLD WAR,

THE JET AIRPLANE WAS NOW DOMINANT.

JET AIRPLANES FLEW HIGH, THEY FLEW FAST.

KNOCKING THEM DOWN WAS GOING TO BE A LOT MORE DIFFICULT

THAN IT HAD BEEN IN WORLD WAR II.

Narrator: BUT THE SOVIETS DEVELOP A COUNTERMEASURE:

MISSILES THAT USE RADAR TO GUIDE THEM TO THE KILL,

ON THE LAND AND IN THE AIR.

Connor: THE SOLUTION TO TARGETING JET AIRCRAFT

MOVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, FLYING AT HIGH ALTITUDES,

WAS THE USE OF RADAR-DIRECTED MISSILES.

Narrator: EACH NATION DEVELOPS ITS WEAPONS IN SECRET.

BUT THE WORLD SOON DISCOVERS WHO HAS THE UPPER HAND.

Connor: THE SOVIET UNION SCORED A MAJOR SUCCESS

WITH THE FIRST SHOOT-DOWN USING A SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE.

THIS OCCURRED IN 1960 IN A VERY FAMOUS EPISODE,

THE DOWNING OF FRANCIS GARY POWERS'

U-2 SPY PLANE.

Narrator: THE SOVIET MISSILE IS CALLED THE SA-2.

ITS RADAR CAN DETECT AN INCOMING AIRCRAFT

UP TO 70 MILES AWAY.

ALL OF A SUDDEN,

THE U.S. MILITARY'S HIGH-FLYING BOMBERS AND THEIR PILOTS

LOOK LIKE SITTING DUCKS.

Connor: THE DOWNING OF GARY POWERS' U-2

WAS A WAKEUP CALL TO THE PENTAGON.

THEY REALIZED THAT ANY MILITARY OPERATION FROM HERE ON

WAS GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY THIS NEW CAPABILITY.

Narrator: 1965.

BY NOW, THE COLD WAR FIGHT HAS SPREAD TO VIETNAM.

17,000 SOVIET MISSILE TECHNICIANS DEPLOY TO HANOI,

HELPING TO DEFEND THE COMMUNISTS AGAINST THE AMERICAN THREAT.

AT THEIR DISPOSAL:

HUNDREDS OF THE SAME SA-2 MISSILES

THAT SHOT DOWN GARY POWERS.

AMERICAN AIRMEN HAVE NEVER FACED SUCH A DEADLY THREAT.

T.J. Williams: THE SA-2 MISSILE SYSTEM PRESENTED US WITH A CHALLENGE

OF HOW TO BEAT SOMETHING THAT'S RADAR GUIDED AND CONTROLLED,

TRAVELS AT EXTREMELY HIGH VELOCITY, AND IS LETHAL.

Narrator: CAPTAIN T.J. WILLIAMS

HAS BEEN AN ELECTRONIC WARFARE AND STRIKE WARFARE SPECIALIST

SINCE 1966.

Williams: AND THAT BEGAN

THE BATTLE OF THE BEAMS FOR VIETNAM

WITH ELECTRONIC WARFARE.

Narrator: THE UNITED STATES

FLIES THE NEWEST, FASTEST FIGHTERS ON THE PLANET.

BUT THE SA-2 STILL HAS THEM BEAT.

Williams: WE COULDN'T CLIMB AS HIGH AS THE SA-2 COULD GO.

WE COULDN'T FLY AS FAST AS THE SA-2 COULD FLY.

AND WE COULDN'T PUT ENOUGH G ON THE AIRPLANE

TO ACTUALLY BEAT THE SA-2.

SO, TO BEAT IT, IT WASN'T GOING TO BE THROUGH MANEUVERS,

IT WASN'T GONNA BE THROUGH SPEED,

IT WAS GONNA BE THROUGH ELECTRONIC TECHNIQUE.

Narrator: THE UNITED STATES HAS PLENTY OF AIRCRAFT

THAT HAVE BEEN MODIFIED TO JAM FOR THEMSELVES:

ELECTRIC INTRUDERS,

SKY WARRIORS,

WILD WEASELS.

WHAT IT NEEDS NOW IS A DEDICATED ELECTRONIC ATTACK PLANE

THAT CAN JAM FOR OTHER AIRCRAFT.

THAT WAY, THE BOMBERS CAN FOCUS ON JUST DOING THEIR JOB.

Williams: MOST OF THE AIRCRAFT HAD

WHAT WOULD BE CALLED SELF-PROTECTION JAMMING.

WHAT WAS MISSING WAS A FORCE PROTECTION JAMMER

DEDICATED TO PROTECTING MULTIPLE AIRCRAFT AT THE SAME TIME.

Narrator: FOR HELP, AMERICA TURNS TO AN OLD FRIEND:

GRUMMAN AEROSPACE CORPORATION.

THEIR SOLUTION:

ADAPT A NEW PLANE THAT'S ALREADY ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE,

THE A-6 INTRUDER.

Connor: THE A-6 WAS A REMARKABLE NEW STRIKE AIRCRAFT

FOR THE NAVY.

FAIRLY EARLY IN ITS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS,

THERE WERE A LOT OF ACCOMMODATIONS

MADE IN THE DESIGN

FOR ACCOMMODATING A LOT OF ELECTRONIC CAPABILITY.

Narrator: THREE YEARS LATER,

THE REMODELED A-6 INTRUDER MAKES ITS DEBUT AS THE EA-6B,

BETTER KNOWN AS THE PROWLER.

IN SERVICE FOR OVER 40 YEARS,

IT'S THE FIRST PLANE EVER DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY

FOR THE ELECTRONIC WARFARE MISSION.

THE PROWLER IS SO ADVANCED,

IT TAKES FOUR PEOPLE TO OPERATE THE NEW TECHNOLOGY.

Mark Weinrich: THE EA-6B PROWLER HAS FOUR CREW MEMBERS...

ONE PILOT,

AND THEN THREE ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURE OFFICERS,

WE CALL THEM ECMOs.

THE PILOT OBVIOUSLY IS FLYING THE AIRPLANE,

SO HE'S THE ONE SITTING RIGHT THERE IN THE FRONT LEFT SEAT.

HE'S GOT THE CONTROLS,

AND HE DOES ALL THE THINGS YOU WOULD EXPECT OF A PILOT TO DO.

Narrator: THE ECMO IN THE FRONT SEAT

IS IN CHARGE OF NAVIGATION.

WHAT THE TWO IN THE BACK DO IS TOP-SECRET.

Weinrich: THEY'VE GOT COMPUTER SCREENS

AND A LITTLE KEYBOARD RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM.

SO, THOSE BACKSEAT ECMOs ARE THE ONES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE

FOR JAMMING THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO JAM.

Narrator: BACK IN VIETNAM,

PROWLER CREWS KNOW THAT WHAT THEY NEED TO JAM FIRST

IS THE DEADLY SA-2.

Connor: THERE WAS AN UNDERSTANDING RIGHT FROM THE OUTSET

THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A CAPABILITY

THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY

TO OPERATIONS OVER NORTH VIETNAM.

Narrator: THE NAVY CAN HARDLY WAIT

TO BRING ITS NEW AIRCRAFT TO THE BATTLEFIELD.

Williams: THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF EXCITEMENT

BY THOSE IN THE ELECTRONIC WARFARE COMMUNITY.

Narrator: BUT OTHERS IN THE MILITARY ARE SKEPTICAL.

Connor: BECAUSE ELECTRONIC WARFARE IS A GAME OF ELECTRONS

AND PEOPLE DON'T SEE THINGS PHYSICALLY BLOW UP,

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO CONVEY THE UNDERSTANDING

THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY A HUGELY IMPORTANT PART

OF MODERN MILITARY OPERATIONS.

Narrator: AND AT $20 MILLION EACH,

A DEDICATED ELECTRONIC ATTACK PLANE

IS A COSTLY GAMBLE.

Williams: THE PROWLER WAS NEW, AND IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE,

AND IT HAD TO PROVE ITSELF.

Narrator: WILL THE PROWLER PROVE THAT ELECTRONIC ATTACK

IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH?

OR WILL THE SA-2 CONTINUE TO HAVE THE UPPER HAND?

Narrator: 1972.

NORTH VIETNAM.

FOUR YEARS AFTER ITS MAIDEN FLIGHT,

THE EA-6B PROWLER FLIES INTO THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF THE WAR.

Williams: AT THE TIME,

THERE WAS A FEEL-GOOD SENSE THAT THE PROWLER IS HERE.

BUT THERE WAS NO WAY ON THE SPOT

TO MEASURE WHAT THE PROWLER ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHED.

Narrator: THE PROWLER ACCOMPANIES

HUNDREDS OF NAVY BOMBERS,

JAMMING THE RADAR-GUIDED SA-2 MISSILE SYSTEMS

MEANT TO BRING THEM DOWN.

THE NAVY BELIEVES THAT ITS NEW ELECTRONIC WARFARE AIRCRAFT

IS A SUCCESS.

BUT THE STATS TO BACK UP THEIR CLAIMS ARE HARD TO FIND.

Ken Krech: THE REASON WHY ELECTRONIC WARFARE WAS HARD TO UNDERSTAND

GOES BACK TO YOU CAN'T VISUALIZE IT.

YOU'RE DEALING WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S IN THE ETHER.

Narrator: CAPTAIN KEN KRECH

WAS AN ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURES OFFICER

AND LEAD FOR THE PROWLER'S ADVANCED SYSTEMS PROGRAM.

Krech: TODAY IT'S A LOT EASIER

BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE USED TO CELL PHONES, BEEPERS, WIRELESS,

AND THAT SORT OF STUFF,

BUT IF YOU IMAGINE TALKING TO SOMEBODY

IN THE '70s OR '80s, BEFORE WE HAD CELL PHONES,

THEY WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

Narrator: ONLY THE ELECTRONIC ATTACK COMMUNITY

UNDERSTANDS THAT ELECTRONIC WARFARE

IS THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE.

AND IN 1984, THE PROWLER GETS A POWERFUL UPGRADE:

A HARM MISSILE.

Krech: THE HIGH-SPEED ANTI-RADIATION MISSILE,

OR HARM,

ITS REAL PURPOSE WAS TO STOP THE ENEMY FROM USING ITS RADARS.

THE WHOLE IDEA OF THE HARM MISSILE

IS BASICALLY SOMEBODY'S SHOOTING AT ME WITH A MISSILE,

I WANT A MISSILE THAT IS FASTER

AND CAN GET TO THE GUY WHO'S SHOOTING AT ME

BEFORE HIS MISSILE GETS TO ME.

Narrator: THE PROWLER COMMUNITY THINKS IT'S A PERFECT FIT.

Krech: THE SKILLS THAT WE HAD DEVELOPED:

UNDERSTANDING HOW THE ENEMY USES RADARS,

HOW IT USES ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

TO ATTACK OUR AIRPLANES AND STUFF...

THAT GAVE US THE INSIGHT THAT WE WOULD KNOW BEST

WHEN TO USE THIS ANTI-RADIATION MISSILE.

Narrator: BUT CRITICS BELIEVE

THE ELECTRONIC WARRIORS ARE OVERSTEPPING THEIR BOUNDS.

Krech: FRANKLY, MANY OF THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP AT THE TIME

BELIEVED THAT, "OH, THOSE GUYS, THEY HAVE RECEIVERS AND JAMMERS.

WHY ARE THEY CARRYING THINGS THAT BLOW UP?"

Narrator: CARRYING ONE OF THE MILITARY'S NEWEST MISSILES

IS A BIG STEP FOR AN UNPROVEN PLANE.

THE PROWLERS KNOW

THEY'RE UNDER PRESSURE TO PROVE THEIR WORTH.

Connor: IN THE 20 YEARS AFTER THE VIETNAM WAR,

THE PROWLER NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO PROVE ITSELF.

IT WASN'T UNTIL DESERT STORM

THAT IT HAD ITS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LIMELIGHT.

Narrator: AUGUST 1990.

THE MIDDLE EAST.

IRAQI DICTATOR SADDAM HUSSEIN

ORDERS HIS ARMY ACROSS THE BORDER

AND INTO TINY KUWAIT.

FIVE MONTHS LATER, A U.N. COALITION TAKES ACTION.

THE ALLIES START WITH A SERIES OF AIR STRIKES.

[AIR RAID SIREN]

THEY CALL IT OPERATION DESERT STORM.

JANUARY 17, 1991.

THE MIDDLE OF THE RED SEA.

THE SECOND NIGHT OF THE WAR.

TWO EA-6B PROWLERS AND TWO BRITISH TORNADOS

PREP FOR TAKEOFF.

Krech: WE TOOK OFF,

I THINK IT WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT AFTER MIDNIGHT.

WE WERE GOING TO SUPPORT A ROYAL AIR FORCE STRIKE

IN THE WESTERN PART OF IRAQ.

Narrator: GETTING THE STRIKE FORCE IN

WON'T BE EASY.

IRAQ HAS SOME OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED RADARS

IN THE WORLD.

Krech: THE IRAQ AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM

HAD BEEN DEVELOPED MUCH MORE RECENTLY

THAN WHEN WE HAD LAST FOUGHT A WAR.

SO, WE KNEW THE EQUIPMENT THEY HAD WAS VERY GOOD,

SO WE HAD EXPECTATIONS FOR A SIGNIFICANT FIGHT.

Narrator: THE TORNADOS HAVE PLENTY OF BOMBS.

BUT CAN THEY GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO USE THEM?

THAT DEPENDS ON HOW WELL THE PROWLERS CAN JAM.

Krech: IF WE DO OUR JAMMING MISSION PROPERLY,

WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS STOP THE ENEMY

FROM EVER SEEING THE REAL AIRPLANE

THAT'S GOING IN TO DROP A BOMB.

IDEALLY, THE FIRST THING THEY KNOW

IS A BOMB GOES OFF OR THEY HEAR A JET FLY BY.

Narrator: FIVE HOURS AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ELECTRONIC ATTACK WARRIORS

ESCORT THE TORNADOS INTO ENEMY SKIES.

Krech: WE'RE NOW IN IRAQ, AND YOU COULD SEE ON YOUR SYSTEM

THAT THERE WERE ENEMY RADARS UP AND OPERATING,

THEY WERE LOOKING FOR US.

Narrator: THE TWO BRITISH BOMBERS

SPEED TOWARD THEIR TARGET.

THE PROWLERS FOLLOW CLOSE BEHIND,

JAMMING ALL THE WAY.

Krech: AS SOON AS WE THINK

THEY CAN SEE THE PEOPLE WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT,

YOU HAVE THE JAMMERS ON AT THAT POINT.

Narrator: THE PROWLERS HOPE THEIR JAMMERS

WILL PREVENT THE RADAR FROM SEEING THE TORNADOS.

BUT THEY CAN'T TAKE ANY CHANCES.

THEY PUT A HARM ON THE RAIL AND GET READY TO FIRE.

Krech: THE PILOT ULTIMATELY IS THE ONE THAT SAYS

THERE'S NO AIRPLANE IN FRONT OF ME,

YOU KNOW, THE AIRPLANE'S POINTED THE RIGHT DIRECTION,

AND HE ACTUALLY COMMITS TO SHOOT THE MISSILE

BY PULLING THE TRIGGER.

Narrator: IT'S THE FIRST TIME KRECH'S CREW

HAS FIRED THE HARM IN COMBAT.

IT MAKES QUITE AN IMPRESSION.

Krech: WE PITCH UP, FIRE THE MISSILE,

AND THIS HUGE WHITE, YOU KNOW, FIREBALL COMES OFF.

AND WE'RE LIKE,

MAN, THIS IS THE GREATEST ROMAN CANDLE YOU'VE EVER SEEN.

WHOO!

Narrator: WITH THE IRAQI RADAR NO LONGER A THREAT,

THE TORNADOS UNLOAD THEIR BOMBS AND HEAD BACK TO BASE.

Krech: ALL OF THEIR AIRPLANES MADE IT BACK TO THE BASE SAFELY,

AND THAT'S THE BEST YOU CAN GET.

Narrator: IT CAN JAM, AND IT CAN SHOOT MISSILES.

DESERT STORM PROVES THAT THE PROWLER IS A DOUBLE THREAT.

Krech: STRIKE AFTER STRIKE AFTER STRIKE,

WE ACCOMPLISHED OUR PRIMARY MISSION,

WHICH IS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE,

DEFEND THEM SO THEY CAN DO THEIR MISSION AND GET BACK.

IT WORKED GREAT.

Williams: DESERT STORM WAS LIKE THE DEBUTANTE BALL

FOR THE PROWLER.

THE RESULTS WERE UNIMPEACHABLE AND WERE EXTREMELY GOOD.

Narrator: BUT IN THE WORLD OF ELECTRONIC ATTACK,

NEW THREATS ARE ALWAYS ON THE HORIZON.

AND IN JUST A FEW YEARS,

THE PROWLER MUST FACE ITS MOST DANGEROUS ENEMY YET.

1999.

SERBIA.

YUGOSLAV LEADER SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC

IS YEARS INTO A MURDEROUS ETHNIC CLEANSING CAMPAIGN.

IN JANUARY, HIS PARAMILITARY TROOPS

KILL 45 ETHNIC ALBANIANS,

INCLUDING WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

AFTER MONTHS OF WATCHING THE TRAGEDY UNFOLD,

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FINALLY DECIDES TO ACT.

President Clinton: MY FELLOW AMERICANS,

IF PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC WILL NOT MAKE PEACE,

WE WILL LIMIT HIS ABILITY TO MAKE WAR.

Narrator: A NATO COALITION OF 19 COUNTRIES

PREPARES FOR A MASSIVE AIR WAR.

THE NAVAL SERVICES BRINGS 27 EA-6B PROWLERS TO THE FIGHT.

John Cryer: THE DECISION HAD BEEN MADE

THAT EVERY STRIKE SORTIE THAT WAS GOING INTO KOSOVO

WOULD HAVE ELECTRONIC ATTACK ASSOCIATED WITH IT,

SO THE PROWLERS WERE IN GREAT DEMAND.

Narrator: REAR ADMIRAL JOHN CRYER

WAS THE COMMANDER OF THE PACIFIC FLEET ELECTRONIC ATTACK WING

DURING OPERATION ALLIED FORCE.

Cryer: THE SERB AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM

WAS FAIRLY ROBUST.

THEY HAD A LOT OF EQUIPMENT FROM THE FORMER SOVIET UNION,

AND THEY KNEW HOW TO USE IT VERY WELL.

Narrator: ALLIED FORCES LEARN THE HARD WAY

THAT THE SERBS ARE DANGEROUS AND SKILLED OPPONENTS.

JUST THREE DAYS INTO THE WAR,

SERB FORCES SHOOT DOWN

ONE OF THE ALLIES' MOST TREASURED ASSETS:

AN AIR FORCE F-117.

Cryer: IT DOES UNDERSCORE

HOW TECHNICALLY ADEPT THAT THE SERBS WERE

AT BEING ABLE TO CONDUCT AIR DEFENSE OPERATIONS

AGAINST THE ALLIED AIRCRAFT.

THEY WEREN'T JUST THROWING MISSILES IN THE SKY.

THEY WERE LOOKING VERY SPECIFICALLY

AT BEING ABLE TO SHOOT ANY OF US DOWN.

Narrator: MARCH 29.

AVIANO AIR BASE, ITALY.

CRYER AND HIS CREW GET A CALL TO ESCORT TWO F-15 STRIKE EAGLES

ON A BOMBING RAID DEEP IN SERB TERRITORY.

Cryer: OUR JOB WAS TO MAKE SURE

THAT WE WERE ABLE TO STAY VERY CLOSE TO THOSE F-15Es

AND PROVIDE THE JAMMING SUPPORT

REQUIRED TO KEEP THEM FROM BEING DETECTED

BY THE EARLY WARNING ACQUISITION-TYPE RADARS.

Narrator: BUT COALITION AIRCRAFT

AREN'T JUST CONCERNED WITH BEING DETECTED.

THEY'RE CONCERNED WITH GETTING SHOT DOWN.

Cryer: THE SERBS WERE ACTIVELY TRYING TO SHOOT DOWN

EVERY ONE OF THE STRIKE AIRCRAFT THAT WERE COMING IN.

THERE WAS A CONSTANT SERIES OF MISSILES IN THE AIR.

Narrator: COALITION PLANES ROAR OVER PRISTINA,

HEADING FOR THEIR TARGET.

Cryer: AS WE CAME CLOSE TO THE BORDER AREA THERE OF KOSOVO

AND THE STRIKE EAGLES WERE ABOUT TO GO INTO THEIR ATTACK PROFILE,

WE GOT THE ELECTRONIC DESIGNATION

FOR SOME OF THE SA-6 RADARS.

Narrator: THE SA-6.

IT'S THE DEADLIEST SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE

THE PROWLERS HAVE EVER FACED.

Williams: THE SA-6 WAS EVEN MORE LETHAL THAN THE SA-2.

IT OPERATED IN A WHOLE NEW FREQUENCY REGIME

AND IT WAS CONTROLLED ON THE BATTLEFIELD,

SO YOU NEVER KNEW QUITE WHERE IT WAS

AND YOU NEVER KNEW QUITE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM.

Narrator: CRYER'S CREW SCRAMBLES TO READY ITS HARM MISSILE,

BUT IT MAY ALREADY BE TOO LATE.

Cryer: AS WE WERE PREPARING TO FIRE,

WE NOTICED THAT THE SA-6 HAD FIRED ON US

AND WE HAD AT LEAST FOUR OF THEIR SAMs UP IN THE AIR

THAT WERE GUIDING TOWARD THE STRIKE EAGLES AND US.

Narrator: ONCE THE SA-6'S RADAR LOCKS ON,

ITS MISSILES CAN REACH THE PLANES

IN LESS THAN A MINUTE.

IF THE PROWLER'S CREW DOESN'T ACT FAST,

THE F-15s WILL BE DESTROYED.

REAR ADMIRAL JON CRYER AND HIS EA-6B CREW

FACE DOWN FOUR SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES IN SERBIAN SKIES.

Cryer: WE SAW THOSE ELECTRONIC SIGNALS FROM THE SA-6

AS WE WERE GOING INTO THE STRIKE AREA.

AND IT WAS AFTER THAT THAT WE SAW

THE SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES ACTUALLY COMING UP,

THE SA-6 MISSILES COMING UP AT US.

Narrator: THE PROWLER'S CREW HAS JUST SECONDS TO TAKE ACTION.

Cryer: ONCE THEY'VE LAUNCHED THOSE MISSILES,

THEY HAVE LESS THAN A MINUTE OR TWO

BEFORE ACTUAL IMPACT.

SO WE IMMEDIATELY FIRED A HARM,

A HIGH SPEED ANTI-RADIATION MISSILE, AGAINST THEM,

AND THEN WE CONTINUED TO JAM.

Narrator: THE HARM DOES ITS JOB.

WITH THE RADAR DESTROYED,

THE SERB MISSILES SUDDENLY LOSE THEIR TRACKING SIGNAL

AND THEIR EFFECTIVENESS.

Cryer: THEIR MISSILES MISSED US.

THEY GOT VERY CLOSE ABOARD AND DID NOT DETONATE,

BUT THEY DID NOT HIT US OR THE STRIKE EAGLES.

Narrator: DURING THE COURSE OF THE CONFLICT,

THE EA-6B PROWLERS FLY OVER 2,000 HOURS IN JUST 78 DAYS.

NOT A SINGLE AIRMAN IS LOST ON THEIR WATCH.

Connor: THE PROWLER'S SUCCESS IN OPERATION ALLIED FORCE

SEALED ITS LEGACY

AS BEING THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTRONIC WARFARE AIRCRAFT

IN THE 40 YEARS AFTER THE VIETNAM WAR.

Narrator: THE CONFLICT REVEALS SOMETHING ELSE

ABOUT THE PROWLER:

ITS FLYING DAYS ARE NUMBERED.

Connor: AFTER OPERATION ALLIED FORCE,

THERE WAS AN AWARENESS

THAT THE EA-6B WAS BEGINNING TO SHOW ITS AGE.

Narrator: IT ISN'T EASY TO KEEP AN AGING FIGHTER BATTLE-READY.

THAT'S WHERE THE MAINTAINERS COME IN.

Joshua Dyer: A LOT OF OUR AIRCRAFT

SPECIFICALLY WERE BORN OR MANUFACTURED IN THE MID-80s.

SO IT'S A 30-YEAR AIRCRAFT.

IT'S A LOT OLDER

THAN THE MAINTAINERS THAT ARE WORKING ON IT.

SO, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SPECIAL INSPECTIONS

AND CONDITIONAL INSPECTIONS THAT REQUIRE MAINTENANCE.

Narrator: ELECTRONIC WARFARE AIRCRAFT

MUST CONSTANTLY UPGRADE THEIR HARDWARE

AND THEIR SOFTWARE, TOO.

Krech: THE KEY TO OUR BEING SUCCESSFUL IN ELECTRONIC WARFARE

IS ATTENTION TO DETAIL,

TO MAKE SURE THE SOFTWARE'S WORKING PROPERLY

AND YOU CAN REALLY EXECUTE THE MISSION HOW YOU WANT TO.

Narrator: DESPITE ITS AGE,

THE PROWLER'S SERVICE IS NOT DONE AFTER KOSOVO.

THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY MISSION FOR ITS ADVANCED ELECTRONICS

IS STILL TO COME.

[GUNFIRE]

2003.

BAGHDAD.

U.S.-LED FORCES HAVE CHASED IRAQI DICTATOR SADDAM HUSSEIN

FROM POWER.

BUT A BATTLE WITH INSURGENTS RAGES ON.

THEIR WEAPON OF CHOICE...

[MAN YELLING]

THE RADIO-CONTROLLED IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE,

OR IED.

Brian Hinkley: EARLY IEDs WERE TYPICALLY PRESSURE PLATES,

WHERE YOU WOULD STEP ON A SPRING AND IT WOULD EXPLODE

OR DRIVE A TRUCK OVER IT.

THEN THEY STARTED TO CREATE THE RADIO-CONTROLLED IED.

Narrator: CAPTAIN BRIAN HINKLEY LED THE NAVY'S GROUND EFFORTS

TO ENHANCE ELECTRONIC WARFARE CAPABILITIES

DURING OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.

Hinkley: THE RADIO-CONTROLLED IED

WAS DETONATED OR ARMED THROUGH A RADIO SIGNAL.

SO YOU COULD EITHER USE A GARAGE DOOR OPENER

OR A PERSONAL MOBILE RADIO OR EVEN A CELL PHONE

TO ARM OR TRIGGER THAT DEVICE.

Narrator: THE ARMY SPENDS OVER $12 BILLION

TO COUNTER THE IED'S ELECTRONIC ATTACK.

[EXPLOSION]

Man: IED! IED!

Narrator: NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK.

BUT THEN, THE U.S. ARMY GETS SOME UNLIKELY HELP FROM ABOVE:

THE EA-6B PROWLER.

AUGUST 2003.

A TEAM OF PROWLERS HEADS OUT ON A TOP-SECRET MISSION.

Hinkley: EA-6Bs OVERHEAD COORDINATED WITH A CONVOY

GOING OUT TO TARGET AN INDIVIDUAL

THAT WAS MOTIVATING OTHERS TO EMPLACE IEDs.

THE GOAL WAS GETTING SOME INTEL FROM HIM

TO BE ABLE TO FIND THE NEXT STEP UP IN THE NETWORK.

Narrator: GETTING TO THE TARGET WON'T BE EASY.

HE'S DEEP IN THE HEART OF SADR CITY,

INSURGENT TERRITORY.

Hinkley: WE HAD TO ASSUME THAT THERE WERE IEDs EVERYWHERE.

Narrator: INSURGENTS HAVE HAD UNRESTRICTED ACCESS

TO SADR CITY'S RADIO WAVES.

BUT THE PROWLERS PLAN TO CHANGE THAT, STARTING NOW.

Hinkley: THE KEY

IS TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

AT A TIME AND A PLACE OF OUR CHOOSING

AND TO BE ABLE TO DENY IT FOR THE ENEMY'S USE.

Narrator: THE PROWLERS' PLAN:

TO DISABLE THE IEDs BY JAMMING THEM.

IT'S A REVOLUTIONARY IDEA.

Hinkley: WE HAD NEVER DONE IT BEFORE.

SO, IT WAS ALL A NEW GAME,

SO YOU ALWAYS WONDER WHETHER OR NOT

YOU WILL BE EFFECTIVE AGAINST A NEW THREAT.

Narrator: AS THE PROWLERS FLY OVERHEAD,

THEY KNOW THAT AMERICAN LIVES DEPEND ON THEIR SUCCESS.

Hinkley: IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT ALL RIGHT,

YOU WILL NOT PREVENT THAT RADIO SIGNAL

GOING FROM THE ADVERSARY'S TRANSMITTER

TO THE ADVERSARY'S IED RECEIVER,

AND THAT IED WILL IN FACT BLOW UP WHEN THEY WANT IT TO.

Narrator: PROWLERS KNOW THEY CAN DOMINATE AN ELECTRONIC AIR WAR.

BUT CAN THEY WIN THE GROUND WAR, TOO?

AN AMERICAN SPECIAL-OPS CONVOY

MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH THE STREETS OF SADR CITY.

TWO EA-6B PROWLERS CIRCLE IN THE SKIES ABOVE,

TRYING TO JAM THE INSURGENTS' RADIO-CONTROLLED IEDs.

Hinkley: THEIR ORBIT WAS IN PLACE

SUCH THAT THEY COULD PROTECT THAT CONVOY

AS IT TRANSVERSED ACROSS ITS INTENDED PATH.

Narrator: ALL IT TAKES IS ONE LAPSE IN THE JAMMING

FOR THE CONVOY TO BECOME A FUNERAL TRAIN.

Hinkley: EVERYTHING WAS REALLY CRITICAL THAT IT WAS TIMED.

SO YOU WOULD ACTIVATE ELECTRONIC ATTACK

FROM BEGINNING TO END ALONG THAT ROUTE.

Narrator: MINUTES AFTER THEY ENTER SADR CITY,

THE CONVOY REACHES ITS TARGET.

Hinkley: THE FIRST THING THAT THOSE GUYS IN THAT HOUSE SAW

WAS A FLASH BANG AT THEIR DOOR,

OUR FORCES BUSTING IN THE DOOR

AND TAKING WHO WE NEEDED AND WHAT WE NEEDED

OUT OF THAT HOUSE.

Narrator: THE INSURGENT LEADER

COUNTED ON THE IEDs TO PROTECT HIM,

BUT HE COUNTED WRONG.

Hinkley: THE EA-6Bs WERE ABLE TO HOLD ON FOR ONE MORE ORBIT,

THE CONVOY HEADED BACK HOME,

CLEARED THE DANGEROUS AREA IN SADR CITY.

EA-6Bs WERE ABLE TO GO BACK TO THEIR BASE.

Narrator: THE EA-6B PROWLER HAS LONG CONTROLLED THE SKIES.

IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM,

IT'S A KEY PART OF THE GROUND WAR, TOO.

Hinkley: CREWS WERE NEVER LACKING FOR FLIGHT TIME;

ALWAYS LACKING FOR SLEEP.

Narrator: THE PROWLER HAS HAD MORE UPGRADES

THAN ANY OTHER NAVY OR MARINE AIRCRAFT.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE ELECTRONIC ATTACK MISSION

TO FLY SOMETHING NEW.

Cryer: THE EA-6B HAD BEEN DESIGNED IN THE '60s.

IT WAS GETTING RATHER OLD,

AND THERE IS A FINITE LIFE TO ALL OF OUR AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: 2006.

BOEING DEBUTS A STATE-OF-THE-ART ELECTRONIC WARFARE AIRCRAFT.

THEY CALL IT THE EA-18G GROWLER.

IT PUTS THE PROWLER'S DNA

INTO THE BODY OF THE F-18 SUPER HORNET,

THE NAVY'S GO-TO AIRFRAME FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.

Chuda: THE SUPER HORNET

HAS PROVEN ITSELF IN MANY BATTLEFIELDS,

AND THE PROWLER HAD A LOT OF GREAT FEATURES,

SO WE TOOK THE BEST FEATURES FROM THE PROWLER

AND THE BEST FEATURES OF THE SUPER HORNET

AND COMBINED THEM TOGETHER TO GET HERE THE GROWLER.

Narrator: THE F-18 AND THE GROWLER

HAVE A LOT IN COMMON:

SAME AIRFRAME,

SAME RADAR.

SAME WEAPONS SYSTEMS.

Chuda: MOST OF THE AIRFRAME PARTS ARE INTERCHANGEABLE

BECAUSE IT'S THE EXACT SAME AIRFRAME.

SO WHEN WE'RE OUT ON A SHIP WE CAN TAKE PARTS

FROM THE SUPER HORNET AND THE GROWLER

AND INTERCHANGE THEM,

WHICH MAKES IT REAL EASY TO MAINTAIN THESE JETS.

Narrator: THE GROWLER IMPROVES ON THE F-18

BY ADDING 1,400 POUNDS,

2,500 FEET OF CABLING,

66 ANTENNAS,

AND 1.5 MILLION LINES OF SOFTWARE CODE.

Chuda: WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT HERE IN THE FUTURE

FOR THE CAPABILITIES THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE

TO OUR FRIENDLY BRETHREN.

Narrator: THE NAVY'S NEWEST WEAPON

IS POISED TO DOMINATE THE ELECTRONIC SPECTRUM.

BUT NEW CHALLENGES ARE CLOSE BEHIND.

AFTER 34 YEARS OF SERVICE AND MORE THAN 11,000 FLIGHT HOURS,

THE FIRST EA-6B PROWLER WAS RETIRED ON JUNE 10, 2011.

THE OTHERS WILL SOON FOLLOW.

Williams: THE PROWLER HAS A WONDERFULLY LONG

AND GLORIOUS LEGACY.

WHAT THE PROWLER HAS DONE IS CREATE THE UNMISTAKEN NEED

AND ESSENTIAL NATURE OF ELECTRONIC WARFARE

TO EVERYTHING WE DO.

Narrator: ELECTRONIC WARFARE AIRCRAFT.

THE PROWLER SET THE STANDARD.

AND THE GROWLER CONTINUES IT.

NEW THREATS, NEW ENEMIES.

THE GROWLER IS THE ULTIMATE ELECTRONIC ATTACK PLATFORM

FOR THE NEW ARMS RACE.

Connor: ELECTRONIC WARFARE IS BECOMING MUCH MORE COMPLEX,

AND AIRCRAFT LIKE THE GROWLER

ARE MERELY GOING TO BE A PLATFORM

BY WHICH WE CAN GET ACCESS

TO CERTAIN TYPES OF ELECTRONIC ENVIRONMENTS.

Narrator: TOMORROW'S WARS WILL BE WON AND LOST

ON THE ELECTRONIC SPECTRUM.

AND AS NEW THREATS RISE,

THE UNITED STATES PLACES ITS FAITH

IN ONE AIRCRAFT TO TAKE THEM ALL ON:

THE GROWLER.