The US Marine Corps celebrated the arrival of its first three EA-6B Prowler support jamming aircraft upgraded with the Improved Capability (ICAP) Ⅲ suite in a May 13 ceremony at MCAS Cherry Point, NC.rnThe Navy developed ICAP Ⅲ but procured only 15 Prowlers with the upgrade from 2005 onward after deciding to retire all of its EA-6Bs beginning last year and replace them with new EA-18G Growlers by the end of FY2014. The Corps operates four land-based Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadrons (VMAQ-1 through VMAQ-4), each with five EA-6Bs, at Cherry Point. The service opted to keep flying its Prowlers until 2019 (rather than replace them with Growlers) and to convert its ICAP Ⅱ EA-6Bs to the ICAP Ⅲ configuration.
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