US Navy awards Northrop Grumman JCREW 3.3 development contract
Northrop Grumman Corporation has received a $28 million award to continue developing the Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic Warfare (JCREW) 3.3 System of Systems.
JCREW is a multifunctional electronic jammer which could be carried by troops, mounted on a vehicle or boat, or used in a fixed location to prevent the detonation of RCIEDs. Systems used now in Iraq and Afghanistan to counter IEDs provide either dismounted, mounted or fixed-site capability, but not all three.
The contract option exercised by the US Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., on April 9 funds Northrop Grumman for system development and demonstration through the critical design review. CDR began April 9 and is scheduled to continue through October 10.
“Northrop Grumman is pleased, and very proud, to be selected to continue our development of the next-generation variants of IED jammers. We consider the CREW mission of protecting our soldiers from this pervasive threat among the company’s highest priorities,” said Jim Byloff, vice president of advanced systems and products with the network communications systems business of Northrop Grumman Information Systems sector.
Northrop Grumman successfully completed the most recent major milestone - the preliminary design review - which demonstrated the technical maturity and integrated performance of its JCREW 3.3 design was on track to proceed through prototype verifications.
The cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus award fee, cost-only, firm-fixed-price option is a modification to the contract awarded in October 2009.
JCREW 3.3 is the first generation system to be developed using a common open architecture across all three capabilities, which will provide for system flexibility, extensibility, ease of upgrades and a reduced lifecycle cost. The system’s open architecture also will allow it to be easily modified to provide protection for worldwide military operations.
Source: Northrop Grumman
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![Artificial intelligence: the hope, the hype and the real-world reality]()
Artificial intelligence: the hope, the hype and the real-world reality
Artificial intelligence has supported C2 systems and decision-making for more than two decades. It has gradually built up a head of steam in the 2020s, but what is it achieving today and what role could it play in the future?
-
![SOF Week 2026: How SOF Teams Are Powering Radios, Drones and Battlefield Networks (video)]()
SOF Week 2026: How SOF Teams Are Powering Radios, Drones and Battlefield Networks (video)
At SOF Week 2026, Sean O’Neill, Senior Business Development Manager with Iris Technology, discusses the growing importance of tactical power management systems for modern military operations.
-
![SOF Week 2026: How SOF Operators Are Driving the Future of Battlefield Communications (video)]()
SOF Week 2026: How SOF Operators Are Driving the Future of Battlefield Communications (video)
At SOF Week 2026, Austin Farnham, President of Octane Wireless, discusses how direct feedback from special operations forces is helping shape the next generation of battlefield communications technology.
-
![World Defense Show 2026: Northrop Grumman to present improved C2 management system]()
World Defense Show 2026: Northrop Grumman to present improved C2 management system
The Northrop Grumman Integrated Battle Command System is in service with Poland and the US Army with another 20 countries believed to have expressed an interest.
-
![Thales looks to boost DigitalCrew system through AI and human-machine teaming trials]()
Thales looks to boost DigitalCrew system through AI and human-machine teaming trials
The Thales DigitalCrew package, first unveiled at last year’s Defence IQ International Armoured Vehicles conference, is designed to merge imaging and apply a layer of decision-making and observation algorithms to support crew and other personnel.
-
![Babcock nears first customer for Nomad AI translation tool]()
Babcock nears first customer for Nomad AI translation tool
Nomad can provide militaries with real-time intelligence, saving critical time on the battlefield.
