US Navy receives first AN/ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band pods
The US Navy's first AN/ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) production representative pods have been delivered to the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Patuxent River, Maryland.
The two fleet representative test articles, which make up a NGJ-MB shipset were originally handed over to the navy on 7 July, but the announcement itself was made on 8 August by Raytheon.
The Airborne Electronic Attack Systems Program Office (PMA-234) pod shop will be used to complete the NGJ-MB developmental test programme and subsequently support operational testing, requiring the use of operationally representative hardware and software, noted the manufacturer.
Developmental testing will also see involvement from VX-23 and VX-31, located at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, California, and operational testing will be conducted by VX-9 at Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake.
Lt. Alexander Belbin, AEA project officer with NAWCAD’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 said that the tests will cover the power generated by the new pods, 'the frequency range they operate in, and the effects we can achieve against expected targets across the spectrum.'
NGJ-MB has so far completed more than 300 hours of developmental flight testing and has more than 5,000 hours of chamber and lab testing using engineering development models, according to figures from Raytheon.
It also noted that NGJ-MB is part of a larger system designed to augment and replace the legacy ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System currently equipped on the EA-18G Growler.
Raytheon is under contract to provide six NGJ-MB shipsets to the US Navy.
'Once the flight test program is complete, the pods will be sent to the fleet in conjunction with the first Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) shipsets for Initial Operational Capability (IOC), which is scheduled for fall 2023,' added the manufacturer.
Alongside the US Navy, the Royal Australian Air Force's EA-18G Growler fleet will also receive the new pods.
More from Digital Battlespace
-
British Army’s ISR commander warns of new challenges facing defence forces
The race between using ISR and resisting the use of it by enemies has accelerated, leading to new methods and systems being required, according to the British Army’s lead on its ISR efforts.
-
Push for greater use of open source data, says senior British officer
The huge amount of open source data available may not carry the weight of secret sources but it does carry substantial value, according to speakers at Defence IQ C4ISR Global conference in London.
-
Jacobs wins MoD cyber-security support contract
The deal with Jacobs will run until November 2027 and will see the company deliver a range of digital and IT specialist professional services to Defence Digital.
-
Orbit upgrades two multi-purpose terminals and carries out land testing
The communications company has upgraded two of its Beyond Line-of-Sight Multi-Purpose Terminals (MBTs) by introducing advancements in satellite communication technology and AI-driven maintenance capabilities.
-
Norway to receive maritime surveillance satellite data from Kongsberg
Norway's Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace has announced that its subsidiary Kongsberg NanoAvionics will produce three satellites and launch them in 2025.
-
First South Korean 425 Project observation satellite launched
In 2015, South Korea named a consortium of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Hanwha Systems, along with Thales Alenia Space providing the SAR payload derived from its HE-R1000 product, as preferred bidder to develop new Korea 425 Project reconnaissance satellites.