L3Harris Technologies has received a $587.4-million contract to provide custom tactical jamming pods for the US Navy’s EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft.
The devices will include eight operational prototypes of the Next-Generation Jammer – Low Band (NGJ-LB) modular and open-system electronic warfare solution.
They will be adopted by the US Naval Air Systems Command for fleet evaluations, airworthiness, and associated design verification review.
Once approved, the NGJ-LB pods will replace the Growler’s AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System, which has been operational since the early 1970s.
“Our Next Generation Jammer – Low Band solution provides the US Navy with the latest digital, software-based technologies to address advanced and emerging threats from peer adversaries,” L3Harris Chair and CEO Christopher Kubasik stated.
“L3Harris is proud to support the Navy’s efforts to extend US air superiority and operate seamlessly with coalition forces.”
Modernization Partnership With Australia
The US Navy noted that the NGJ-LB order supports a cooperative strategy with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to employ an advanced airborne electronic capability for its respective fleets.
Announced in 2020, the original contract for this initiative was met with “multiple protests,” causing the Pentagon to issue an amended proposal request in 2023.
The design, manufacturing, and operational capability of the final prototype pods under this program are expected by 2029.
“The contract award is a major step for our fleet as well as the RAAF,” US Navy Airborne Electronic Attack Systems Program Manager Capt. David Rueter said.
“Our partnership with Australia to develop the newest AEA jamming capability exhibits our joint commitment to ensure continued superiority over the electromagnetic spectrum.”
Tactical Aircraft Program Executive Officer Rear Adm. John Lemmon added that the “NGJ-LB will meet current and emerging electronic warfare threats and increase the lethality of 4th and 5th generation platforms and strike weapons.”
Upgrading Advanced Hawkeyes
Earlier in September, the US Navy invested in a similar modernization program for its E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft.
This involved a contract award worth $16 million to a California-based company to manufacture new routers for the early warning and control planes, boosting the platform’s network resiliency in contested, long-range scenarios.