General Dynamics / Grumman EF-111 Raven

Electronic Warfare Aircraft (EWA)

United States | 1981

"The Grumman EF-111 Raven was a direct EWA conversion of the F-111A Aardvark fighter-bomber strike platform."

Image from the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio, USA.

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the General Dynamics / Grumman EF-111A Raven Electronic Warfare Aircraft (EWA).

2 x Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-3 (later TF30-P-9) turbofan engines with afterburner developing 20,840 lb of thrust each.
Propulsion

1,855 mph
2,985 kph | 1,612 kts
Max Speed

44,997 ft
13,715 m | 9 miles
Service Ceiling

2,000 miles
3,218 km | 1,738 nm
Operational Range

11,000 ft/min
3,353 m/min
Rate-of-Climb

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the General Dynamics / Grumman EF-111A Raven Electronic Warfare Aircraft (EWA).

2
(MANNED)
Crew

76.0 ft
23.17 m
O/A Length

63.0 ft
(19.20 m)
O/A Width

20.0 ft
(6.10 m)
O/A Height

55,274 lb
(25,072 kg)
Empty Weight

89,001 lb
(40,370 kg)
MTOW

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the General Dynamics / Grumman EF-111 Raven Electronic Warfare Aircraft (EWA) .

OPTIONAL:
2 x AIM-9 "Sidewinder" short-ranged Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs).
2 x 600 gallon external jettisonable fuel tanks.

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the General Dynamics / Grumman EF-111 Raven family line.

EF-111 "Raven - Base Series Designation.

EF-111A - Single Series Conversion Models of F-111A models for electronic warfare role.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 03/12/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The EF-111 Raven was developed from a United States Air Force need for an Electronic Warfare Aircraft (EWA) to replace its aging fleet of EB-66 platforms. The EF-111 was born directly from the airframe of the existing F-111 Aardvark series of swing-wing bomber aircraft already in service and extended the operational use of the airframe by decades. With a single unit conversion cost of $25 million on top of the already paid $15 million production cost, the EF-111 became an expensive yet important addition to USAF operations during the latet years of the Cold War. The system would see operational service up until the late 1990's to which then the Air Force was forced to rely on US Navy and Marine Corps aircraft to fulfill the same EWA role. In any case, the EF-111 platform proved to be versatile and reliable and performed well under the stresses of combat.

By 1972 the United States Air Force was already showcasing its F-111 swing-wing bombers throughout the skies over Vietnam. Seeing the potential for replacing the EB-66 conversion models, the USAF tabbed some F-111A models to be converted themselves into the EF-111, taking on the designation name of "Raven" in the process. These new systems would adopt state-of-the-art technologies to help other aerial battlefield components fight more effectively and accurately. Grumman proceeded on the conversion plans under a new USAF contract in 1974 with first flight achieved by a Raven in 1977. Deliveries would start four years later.

EF-111's were deployed in operational combat use against Libya, Panama, in the Persian Gulf War and Bosnia/Herzegovina with no aircraft lost to enemy fire. From there, the Ravens would be deployed near US interests worldwide for a time up until 1998 to which the EF-111's would be officially retired from USAF service. By any regard, the EF-111 ended up looking quite similar to her strike counterpart with the exception of bulge on the top of the vertical tail fin. Some 42 F-111A Aardvark models were eventually converted to EF-111 Ravens.

The EF-111 also gained the nickname of "Spark Vark" during its tenure and was also known for a time as the "Electric Fox".

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the General Dynamics / Grumman EF-111 Raven. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 42 Units
Contractor(s): General Dynamics / Grumman Aircraft - USA