How uncrewed rotary platforms are shaping approaches to contested logistics
Defence industry primes are working on an array of different platforms to meet the growing need for rotary uncrewed aerial vehicles to carry out future logistics missions.
Raytheon receives $590 million for Growler jammer
AN/ALQ-249 NGJ-MB pod on a USN EA-18G Growler (Photo: Raytheon)
In January 2020, Raytheon was awarded a $403 million System Demonstration Test Articles (SDTA) contract for the New Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) which is designed for use on Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft.
The US Navy (USN) has awarded RTX group’s Raytheon a US$590 million follow-on production contract for the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) system.
The programme is to provide systems for use on the USN’s and the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF’s) Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft. As well as delivery of shipsets, the contract also includes support equipment, spares and non-recurring engineering support.
The airborne electronic attack system consists of two pods, containing two electronically scanned arrays that radiate in the mid-band frequency range.
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The USN and RAAF will employ the NGJ-MB to target advanced radar threats, communications, data links and non-traditional radio frequency threats.
The system reduces adversary targeting ranges, disrupts adversary kill chains and supports kinetic weapons to target. The NGJ-MB allows crews to operate effectively at extended ranges and attack multiple targets simultaneously.
The first pod was delivered for testing in mid-2019 with its first flight test completed 12 months later. Two years after that, the first pods were delivered to the USN.
Earlier this year Raytheon was awarded a $192 million contract to develop the Next-Generation Jammer Mid-Band Expansion (NGJ-MBX) – an upgrade to the NGJ-MB.
The modification of the NGJ-MB will extend its frequency range and provide improved operational effectiveness, Raytheon claimed.
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