USN launches Next-Gen Jammer Low-Band integration on Growler

The US Navy (USN) has launched an effort to integrate the Next Generation Jammer- Low Band (NGJ-LB) system onto the Boeing EA-18G electronic attack (EA) aircraft, with a request for information (RFI) issued on 30 May.

Artist’s render of EA-18G Growler aircraft equipped with Next Generation Jammer pods. (Raytheon)

The RFI released by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is for the development, test, and integration of NGJ-LB onto the EA-18G as part of the wider Growler Block 2 upgrade that it formally launched just days previously. The NGJ system will replace the current AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System (TJS) that dates back to the closing stages of the Vietnam War.

With the TJS operating in the 509 MHz- to 18 GHz-waveband, NGJ will be developed as three separate capabilities, which will include LB, Mid-Band (MB), and High-Band (HB). NGJ-LB (also known as Block/Increment 2), NGJ-MB (Block/Increment 1), and NGJ-HB (Block/Increment 3) are directed specifically against the low- (100 MHz to 2 GHz waveband), mid- (2 GHz to 6 GHz), and high-band (6 GHz to 18 GHz) sections of the overall threat spectrum.

Work on NGJ-LB development, test, and integration is expected to run for five years from 2 December. Northrop Grumman is teamed with Harris Corporation and Comtech PST on the NGJ-LB project, while L3 Technologies is also developing a candidate solution.

As noted by Jane’s C4ISR & Mission Systems: Air