UK eyes lightweight satellite communications for UAVs
The UK is seeking to extend the operational reach of uncrewed aerial vehicles, reflecting growing demand for compact, energy-efficient technology to support beyond-line-of-sight operations.
NGJ-MB is built with an open, modular architecture to accommodate rapid upgrades. (Photo: Raytheon)
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.
The UK is seeking to extend the operational reach of uncrewed aerial vehicles, reflecting growing demand for compact, energy-efficient technology to support beyond-line-of-sight operations.
Northrop Grumman, Airbus and Anduril are positioning their uncrewed aerial vehicles for future collaborative combat aircraft contracts in a market that is forecast to exceed $36 billion.
Senior military leaders have highlighted the need for interoperable systems, common data standards and closer cooperation between India's armed services.
Airbus is developing new capabilities for its A400M transport aircraft as European countries consider future airlift requirements and the UK plans to deploy the aircraft to Saudi Arabia.
As the Pentagon accelerates procurement of low-cost, lethal UAVs through its Drone Dominance Program, emerging suppliers will need to demonstrate manufacturing capacity, supply chain resilience and reliability.
The service is updating several parts of its aviation fleet including fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft and procuring uncrewed aircraft to boost its maritime surveillance.