This film “An Eye in the Darkened Sky” presents the Grumman A6-E Intruder; a twinjet all weather attack air craft first produced in 1960 and which had first seen action in the Vietnam War although it’s service continued into the 1990’s. Starting in 1979, Grumman began outfitting the Intruder with TRAM, or the Target Recognition Attack Multi-Sensor system. This was a small, gyroscopically stabilized nose turret containing a FLIR boresighted with a laser spot-tracker/designator and IBM AN/ASQ-155 computer. TRAM allowed highly accurate attacks without using the Intruder’s radar, and also allowed the Intruder to autonomously designate and drop laser-guided bombs.

The film begins with the USS John F Kennedy (CVN-67) at sea (:19). A strike group including the A-6E, F-14s and Corsair IIs is to take off for a simulated attack mission at night. The attack and support craft on the vessel are zoomed in on (:27). Pilots are briefed on their upcoming mission below deck (:33) and weather forecasts are reviewed (:40). On the mission, troops are instructed to keep an eye on the railroad trestle on their way out for any moving trains (1:03). As the mission was to be conducted at night, forces were to utilize their targets on the TRAM system (1:34). This stands for the Target Recognition Attack Multi-sensor and it is equipped with three sensors (1:48). A shot follows from behind the center window of the forward-looking infrared device known as the FLARE (1:50). This had the ability to sense the variations in heat in any object (1:56). The image thrown from it follows (2:03) of a vessel as whole images were viewed rather than radar blips (2:06). The laser ranger is pointed to which provides a target range to an onboard computer (2:17). The designator (2:24) directed laser guided bombers to their targets. The laser receiver (2:36) receives the target from a ground troop known as the forward air controller (FAC). The FAC is seen illuminating the target with a laser designator (2:46). The A6-E is seen preparing to launch its laser guided weapons (3:06) towards it’s first target of the railroad trestle (3:12). The Intruder swings in low towards its target to avoid being located by enemy radar (3:27). The air crafts terrain clearance system is pointed to (3:30) as it moves over hill tops (3:37). Footage is then provided of a shot of the terrain ahead viewed through the forward-looking infrared receiver (3:41). A damn site that had been chosen as a checkpoint passes by (3:51). As the craft nears the target, the laser range finder is activated (4:12). This is where the railroad would be hit though the film shows no explosion as it is a simulated attack (4:17). After the trestle was to be hit, the FLARE system assesses bomb damage (4:28). A second run is to be completed and the FAC is seen calling in the target (4:36). Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye is shown in flight (4:40). The target location is transmitted to the Intruder (4:46). The craft switches to TRAM imagery in order to positively identify the target (4:54). After the attack is completed, reconnaissance is conducted (5:10). The infrared system is seen utilized over oil drums showing the level of fluid in the drums (5:20). The laser ranger improved weapon deliveries (5:55) and the laser designator, along with guided missiles ensured accuracy of strikes (6:01). The film concludes with the Grumman logo (6:21).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com