Douglas A-3 Skywarrior

The Douglas A‑3 Skywarrior, developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company in the early 1950s, entered service with the United States Navy in 1956 as the Navy’s first carrier‑based strategic bomber. Designed originally to replace the prop‑driven AD Skyraider, the A‑3 was a large, twin‑engine jet with a 12‑foot‑6‑inch wingspan and a length of 73 feet, capable of carrying up to 12,000 pounds of conventional or nuclear ordnance. Its Pratt & Whitney J57‑A turbo‑jets delivered 10,000 pounds of thrust, giving the aircraft a maximum speed near Mach 0.9 and a combat radius of 1,300 nautical miles. Throughout the Cold War the Skywarrior performed a variety of roles: strategic bombing, electronic warfare, photo‑reconnaissance, and aerial refueling, leading to several specialized variants such as the EA‑3 for ELINT and the KA‑3 for tanker duty. The A‑3’s robust airframe, long range, and adaptability made it a workhorse of carrier aviation for more than two decades, influencing later multirole designs and demonstrating the feasibility of heavy jet operations from aircraft carriers. It retired from U.S. service in 1991, leaving a legacy of versatility and engineering achievement.

Douglas

Douglas A-3 Skywarrior

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Design & Classification