The Skywarrior was developed as a strategic bomber for the US Navy. With a shoulder mounted swept wing carrying a pair of podded J57 turbojets the A-3 (initially A3D) was designed to deliver a gravity nuclear bomb from its internal weapons bay. In the mid 1960s the USN relinquished its strategic bomber role and the A-3 was withdrawn from service. The type lived on however in the electronic countermeasures EA-3B, the reconnaissance RA-3B and the tanker KA-3B. The EA-3B featured a pressurized compartment in the weapons bay for four EW operators. KA-3B tankers and EKA-3B tanker/ECM aircraft remained in USN service until 1988-89.