Kind of like the Hornet was a "quantum leap" over the A-6/A-7? Oh, except for the fact that it had shorter legs, wasn't any faster with a load, and had a (significantly) lower bring-back?
Hope I'm wrong, but my faith in the system is waning...
Nose
I just can't believe they decided to use an A-6 for some of those missions. Or an A-4. I mean, those stupid jet engines only alow like 2.2 of flight time! What the hell. In the P-51 days, before that big step backward that was and is the "jet age" we could really get stuff done.
A 300 Extra can turn on a dime. 9+G at those low airspeeds? Talk abotu a gun-fighter! Thats where aviation should be going, not toward whiz-bang SA Radar and complicated link systems, or accurate bombing with improved CAS capability...
The Growler is pretty slick. It is a new system. It has more capability than even the ICAP III. I will never end up flying it, I am well aware, but the system is better, and a much needed improvement for the EW threats we actually need to worry about in a large scale air war. Nuff said there. You can probably google all kinds of things about it, and some of the Jx systems.
It claims to have similiar range and loiter numbers as a B (prowler), which I am not too sure I actually buy into, but the capability PURELY from a EW perspective is worth it. Not to mention the jack of all trades-ness the '18 platform brings, and has slated for future blocks.
Pure and simple: it can do new, neat stuff.
Although after my little time on the island, my eyes are already bleeding from .ppt on the subject...
