page_title: Douglas A-3 Skywarrior
section_title: Cold War
hierarchical_section_title: Douglas A-3 Skywarrior / Operational history / Cold War
caption_attribution_description: A Douglas EA-3B Skywarrior aircraft of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron VQ-2, named Ranger 16 aka "Lola", prepares to land aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) on 3 February 1987.
context_page_description: The Douglas A-3 Skywarrior was a jet-powered strategic bomber that was developed and produced by the Douglas Aircraft Company.
  It was designed by Douglas on behalf of the United States Navy, which sought a carrier-capable strategic bomber. During July 1949, Douglas was awarded the contract to produce its design, having bested eight other aircraft companies' submissions. Unlike rival designs, which had aimed for a 100,000 lb maximum take-off weight, the Skywarrior was developed for a 68,000 lb take-off weight, facilitating its use from the navy's existing Midway-class aircraft carriers. Large portions of the aircraft were produced by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, including its early Westinghouse J40 turbojet engines, which failed to meet promises and were replaced by the rival Pratt & Whitney J57 engine by mid-1953. On 28 October 1952, the prototype XA3D-1 performed the type's maiden flight.
  On 31 March 1956, the Skywarrior entered squadron service with the Navy. Initially used in the nuclear-armed strategic bomber role, the emergence of effective ballistic missiles led to this mission being deprioritised by the early 1960s.
context_section_description: The EA-3 variant was used in critical electronic intelligence (ELINT) roles operating from aircraft carrier decks and ashore supplementing the larger Lockheed EP-3. Its last service was as an ELINT platform during Desert Storm.
caption: An EA-3B of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Two (VQ-2) lands on USS Kitty Hawk in 1987
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