Below ES-3A,The ES-3A Shadow was designed as a carrier-based, subsonic, all-weather, long-range, electronic reconnaissance (ELINT) aircraft. 16 aircraft were modified, replacing the EA-3B Skywarrior, and entering fleet service in 1993. The ES-3A carried an extensive suite of electronic sensors and communications gear, replacing the S-3's submarine detection, armament, and maritime surveillance equipment with avionics racks accommodating the ES-3A's sensors. These modifications had minor impact on airspeed, reducing its top rated speed from 450 KTAS to 405 KTAS but had no noticeable impact on the aircraft's range and actually increased its rated loiter time. Because these aircraft were standoff indications and warnings platforms and were never intended to be part of an ingress strike package, this new speed limitation was considered insignificant.




Specifications (S-3A)
General characteristics
Crew: 4 (Pilot, Co-Pilot/COTAC, TACCO, Sensor Operator/TFO)
Length: 53 ft 4 in (16.26 m)
Wingspan:
Unfolded: 68 ft 8 in (20.93 m)
Folded: 29 ft 6 in (9.00 m)
Height: 22 ft 9 in (6.93 m)
Wing area: 598 ft? (55.56 m?)
Aspect ratio: 7.73
Empty weight: 26,581 lb (12,057 kg)
Loaded weight: 38,192 lb (17,324 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 52,539 lb (23,831 kg)
Internal fuel capacity: 1,933 US gal (13,145 lb)(7,320 L) of JP-5 fuel
External fuel capacity: 2 ? 300 US gal (4,080 lb)(1,136 L) tanks
Powerplant: 2 ? General Electric TF34-GE-2 turbofans, 9,275 lbf (41.26 kN) each
Performance
Maximum speed:
429 kn (493 mph, 795 km/h) at sea level
Mach 0.79, 450 kn (514 mph, 828 km/h) at 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
Cruise speed: 350 kn (405 mph, 650 km/h)
Stall speed: 97 kn (112 mph, 180 km/h)
Range: 2,765 nm (3,182 mi, 5,121 km
Combat Radius: 853 km (530 mi))
Ferry range: 3,368 nm (3,875 mi, 6,237 km)
Service ceiling: 40,900 ft (12,465 m)
Rate of climb: 5,120 ft/min (26.0 m/s)
Wing loading: 68.5 lb/ft? (334 kg/m?)
Thrust/weight: 0.353
Armament
Up to 4,900 lb (2,220 kg) on four internal and two external hardpoints, including:
10 ? 500 lb (227 kg) Mark 82 bombs
2 ? 1000 lb (454 kg) Mark 83 bombs
2 ? 2000 lb (908 kg) Mark 84 bombs
6 ? CBU-100 cluster bombs
2 ? Mark 50 torpedoes
4 ? Mark 46 torpedoes
6 ? mines or depth charges
2 ? B57 nuclear bombs
2 ? AGM-65E/F Maverick missiles
2 ? AGM-84D Harpoon missiles
1 ? AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER missile
The two underwing hardpoints can also be fitted with unguided rocket pods or 300 US gal (1,136 l) fuel tanks.
Avionics
AN/APS-116 sea search radar, maximum range 150 nmi (173 mi, 278 km)
Upgraded on S-3B to AN/APS-137 Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR)
OR-89 forward looking infrared (FLIR) camera with 3? zoom
AN/ARS-2 sonobuoy receiver with 13 blade antennas on the airframe for precise buoy location (Sonobuoy Reference System)
AN/ASQ-81 magnetic anomaly detector (MAD)
AN/ALR-47 Electronic Support Measures (ESM) emitter-location system, with boxy receiver pods fitted to the wingtips, to locate adversary communications and radar transmitters
AN/ASN-92 Inertial navigation system (INS) with doppler radar navigation and TACAN
Up to 60 sonobuoys (59 tactical, 1 Search and Rescue)