Raytheon confirms delivery of Next Generation Jammer pods to Australia

The AN/ALQ-249 NGJ-MB is intended to provide the EA-18G with enhanced electronic attack capabilities to disrupt and degrade enemy air defence and ground communication systems. (NAVAIR)

Raytheon has announced the delivery of its first AN/ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) shipsets to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

“This first delivery of shipsets occurred ahead of schedule in September 2025, with future deliveries continuing through 2026,” Raytheon said on 20 April.

The announcement confirms Australia's acquisition of the capability, which Janes first reported in January after an RAAF Boeing EA-18G Growler equipped with NGJ-MB pods was photographed at RAAF Base Williamtown.

The NGJ system employs digital, software-based, and active electronically scanned array (AESA) technologies to disrupt and degrade enemy air-defence and ground communication systems. According to the Australian Department of Defence (DoD), its initial acquisition of the NGJ-MB system covers eight shipsets, comprising two pods per shipset.

Raytheon said it is also providing on-site deployment and maintenance support for the new shipsets in Australia.

According to the US government's Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E), the NGJ-MB is designed to enhance the capabilities of the EA-18G against modern radio frequency (RF) threats, communications, datalinks, and non-traditional RF targets. The NGJ-MB has four electronic attack mission profiles: standoff, modified escort, penetrating escort, and stand-in jamming, DOT&E added.

Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon, said the NGJ-MB system is effective against “adversary technologies across a wide range of missions”.

NGJ is intended to replace the older AN/ALQ-99 tactical jammer system, which was fielded in 1971. Raytheon developed the NGJ-MB in partnership with the US Navy (USN) and RAAF. NGJ-MB pods in USN service reached initial operational capability (IOC) in January 2025.