• The A-6's all-weather capability, long range, and tremendous payload represented a quantum leap in carrier-based power projection

  The A-6 was the U.S. Navy's all-weather long-range attack aircraft with the ability to operate day or night. It was a subsonic, two seat aircraft fitted with the ability to carry up to 15,000 lb or numerous types of munitions. Later A-6E's were fitted with the Target Recognition and Attack Multisensor (TRAM), which included Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) for precision-guided munitions. Over 660 A-6 aircraft were built.

  In December 1957, the Grumman corporation was selected by the US Navy to fulfill the new long-range low-level tactical strike aircraft requirement with their A-6 Intruder. The A-6A's first flight occurred on April 19, 1960, and the first of 482 production aircraft were delivered in February 1963. The A-6A introduced the new Digital Integrated Attack Navigation Equipment (DIANE), which proved to be excellent in all weather conditions. In all, 19 A-6B's were converted from A-6A standard for SAM suppression, and 12 A-6C's were converted with FLIR and LLLTV equipment for improved night-attack capabilities. The upgraded A-6E first flew on February 27, 1970 and introduced a multi-mode navigation/attack radar system. The A-6 was later replaced by the F/A-18 Hornet.