Despite first having flown in 1963, the A-6 is still the US Navy and Marine Corps primary all-weather heavy attack aircraft. The updated, definitive 'E' model Intruder first flew in 1972 and remains in service today though the Navy is looking for a replacement. Since 1988 all A-6E's have been augmented by a Target Recognition Attack Multisensor (TRAM) mounted in a ball-turret under the nose that has infrared and laser designation/tracking capability. [See also A-6A].
