Raytheon to make first production NGJ-MB shipsets for USN
NGJ-MB is built with an open, modular architecture to accommodate rapid upgrades. (Photo: Raytheon)
LRIP decision marks the latest milestone in a US airborne electronic attack programme.
The USN has awarded Raytheon Intelligence & Space a $171.6 million contract to begin LRIP of the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band programme, soon after the system passed Milestone C tests in late June.
Naval Air Systems Command is buying three LRIP Lot One shipsets plus associated spares, gold units for operational test programme set development and associated technical data.
Work is expected to be completed in October 2023.
The new pod will ‘fundamentally change’ how the USN conducts airborne electronic attack, Raytheon claimed on 6 July, ‘thanks to its power and ability to jam multiple radars simultaneously’.
The company delivered the first NGJ-MB pod to the USN for testing in July 2019.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that NGJ-MB is built with a combination of high-powered, agile beam-jamming techniques and solid-state electronics. It will meet current USN mission needs while providing a cost-effective open-systems architecture for future upgrades.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![USAF eyes sensor and weapon upgrades as MH-139A Grey Wolf achieves IOC]()
USAF eyes sensor and weapon upgrades as MH-139A Grey Wolf achieves IOC
The Grey Wolf has entered operational service nearly three years later than originally planned, while new sustainment contracts indicate that some UH-1Ns could remain supported until 2031.
-
![How geopolitics and new military alliances are disrupting combat aircraft procurement]()
How geopolitics and new military alliances are disrupting combat aircraft procurement
Selection of fighter aircraft by national governments has always been political. As markets and allegiances shift against a background of global realignment, who will be the winners and losers as new entrants compete with established suppliers?
-
![Singapore’s interest in GCAP reflects its long-term approach to air power]()
Singapore’s interest in GCAP reflects its long-term approach to air power
A potential interest in joining GCAP is indicative of Singapore’s long-term and methodical approach to defence procurement and could benefit its local defence industry.
-
![Extending mission readiness: where XR adds real value in pilot, crew and maintenance training]()
Extending mission readiness: where XR adds real value in pilot, crew and maintenance training
Extended reality (XR) is becoming increasingly relevant in military aviation training, adding a flexible layer to an integrated ecosystem spanning the pilot, crew, and maintenance domains.
-
![US military tests AI-powered CUAS turret against drone swarms]()
US military tests AI-powered CUAS turret against drone swarms
As the US continues to invest heavily in counter-drone systems, demand for low-cost, mobile and autonomous technologies is on the rise, with Edda designed to align with these emerging requirements.
-
![August crewed air review: KC-390 momentum builds as demand in the tanker market grows]()
August crewed air review: KC-390 momentum builds as demand in the tanker market grows
The KC-390 is building a growing international operator base, but competition in the transport and tanker market is increasingly likely to depend on interoperability, commonality and the strength of supporting ecosystems. Meanwhile, Boeing’s KC-46 and Airbus’s A330 also gained ground in August.
