06 July 2021
by Richard Scott
The US Navy has awarded Raytheon a low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract for the AN/ALQ-249(V)1 Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) electronic attack payload.
An EA-18G Growler from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23, located at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, conducts a NGJ-MB flight test over southern Maryland. The AN/ALQ-249(V)1 NGJ-MB will provide the EA-18G Growler with the ability to effectively engage enemy threats from increased stand-off distances, employ increased capacity against enemy targets, and support agile employment by operators. (US Navy)
Part of a larger NGJ system that will augment and ultimately replace the legacy ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System currently used on the EA-18G Growler, the AN/ALQ-249(V)1 consists of two pods – referred to as a shipset – carried on EA-18G underwing weapon stations. Designed to counter emitters in the mid-band frequency range, the system integrates gallium-nitride-based active electronically scanned-array (AESA) antennas, an all-digital receiver, and multichannel techniques generator within a non-proprietary modular open systems architecture.
29 March 2024
by Ridzwan Rahmat
Italian Navy Thaon di Revel-class PPA ITS Francesco Morosini seen at Langkawi during its 2023 Asia-Pacific tour. (Janes/Mansasvi Sharma Shanker)
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri announced on 28 March that it has signed a EUR1.18 billion (USD1.27) contract for two multirole offshore patrol ships (Pattugliatore Polivalente d'Altura: PPA) with the Indonesian Ministry of Defense (MoD).
However, Indonesia's ability to fund this commitment is presently unclear given the lack of an allocation for this programme in the country's defence budget.
The PPA is a class of 143 m warships that can be configured for a wide spectrum of missions ranging from ‘light' low-tempo maritime surveillance operations to ‘full combat' higher-end warfighting scenarios. Depending on the configuration, the vessels displace between 5,800 and 6,300 tonnes.
Italy has commissioned three of the vessels and the ships were inducted between March 2022 and September 2023. The Italian Navy is expected to receive its fourth and fifth PPAs in 2024.
29 March 2024
by Michael Fabey
The USN CNO noted the need for the development of directed energy weapons, such as the laser system shown in this artist's rendition. (Lockheed Martin)
Recent US Navy (USN) operations in the Red Sea have underscored the importance of logistics, according to Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the USN chief of naval operations (CNO).
Adm Franchetti also noted the importance of developing new weapons and related capabilities to match emerging threats.
The CNO made the comments during a discussion for Defense One that was shown online on 27 March.
“I've focused a lot especially on contested logistics and the need to think creatively about how to resupply our ships that are out there on the pointy end,” Adm Franchetti said. “We've been able to do that.”
29 March 2024
by Akhil Kadidal
The Japan MoD has disclosed two airborne ELINT flights by Chinese PLA aircraft near Japanese airspace on 26 and 27 March 2024. (Japan Ministry of Defense/Janes)
A Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Guizhou WZ-7 Xianglong (Soaring Dragon) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was observed near Japanese airspace over the Sea of Japan (East Sea) for the first time.
This high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) UAV appeared from the direction of the “continental area” on “the morning of 26 March 2024”, the Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD) said.
A map issued by the MoD showed the WZ-7 flying a counterclockwise route over the Sea of Japan (East Sea) before turning northwest towards North Korea and Russia. The event prompted the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to scramble fighter aircraft from its Chūbu (Central) Air Defense Force (of the JASDF Central Area sector), according to the MoD.
The WZ-7 “circled over the Sea of Japan [East Sea],” the MoD said.
Based on the MoD's map of the incident, Janes
The US Navy has awarded Raytheon a low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract for the AN/ALQ-249(V)...
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