The U.S. Navy this week awarded industry teams four contracts totaling $168 million to advance technology associated with the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ), its airborne electronic attack (AEA) sensor of the future.
ITT Electronic Warfare Systems, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems each received contracts of $42 million for the technology maturation phase of the program, due to be completed in April 2012. The four contractors and industry partners participated in technology maturation trade studies awarded by the Navy in January 2009.
The NGJ is intended to counter advanced, integrated air defenses and non-traditional radio frequency threats, replacing the current ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System installed on the EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft. The ALQ-99 pod dates to the 1970s.