NGJ-MB clears latest hurdle
An EA-18G Growler from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 conducts a Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band flight test. (Photo: USN/Steve Wolff)
The Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) programme for the USN has passed Milestone C tests, manufacturer Raytheon announced on 29 June.
This decision paves the way for NGJ-MB to enter the production and deployment phase and proceed with LRIP.
The USN and Royal Australian Air Force are each adopting NGJ-MB for their EA-18G Growler EW aircraft, to replace legacy ALQ-99 systems.
‘The Milestone C decision drives home the stability and maturity of NGJ-MB,’ said Annabel Flores, VP of electronic warfare systems at Raytheon Intelligence & Space.
She added: ‘The system is ready for validation and LRIP, and we’re gearing up for the delivery of this critical capability to the fleet.’
To date, NGJ-MB has successfully completed more than 145h of developmental flight testing using mission systems and aeromechanical pods.
NGJ-MB has also completed more than 3,100h of anechoic chamber and laboratory tests to evaluate its performance both on and off the EA-18G Growler aircraft, in addition to jamming techniques and reliability testing.
A total of 28 NGJ-MB pods will be delivered in the engineering, manufacturing and development phase, Shephard Defence Insight reports.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
NATO’s GlobalEye selection reflects a move towards greater European defence autonomy
The joint acquisition of Saab’s GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft by 11 allies marks the end of NATO’s more than four-decade reliance on a US-built airborne early warning platform.
-
NATO expands high-altitude intelligence capability with MQ-4C Triton purchase
The proposed drone acquisition is intended to form part of a distributed structure of surveillance capabilities, complementing systems such as the RQ-4D Global Hawks already acquired by NATO.
-
US Air Force unveils new details of Next Generation Airlift aircraft to replace C-17 and C-5
New planning documents reveal how the service is defining the aircraft expected to succeed the C-17 and C-5, including its initial requirements and procurement roadmap.
-
Could CUAS demand open a new market for armed trainer aircraft?
As affordable counter-drone solutions become a military priority, repurposing training aircraft could emerge as a credible option to prepare for emergency scenarios.
-
A new shape in the sky? Mapping out the F-47’s configuration
As images of what might be an F-47 prototype or proof-of-concept vehicle emerge from the Nevada desert, what do they tell us about the aircraft’s capabilities and enabling technologies?