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The US Navy has awarded Raytheon a US$192 million (AU$277.9 million) contract to develop the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band Expansion, an upgrade to the current Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band system.
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This contract modification will extend the frequency range of the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) system to counter additional threats, with Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band Expansion (NGJ-MBX) providing additional capabilities to improve operational effectiveness.
The development of the NGJ-MB is a cooperative development and production program with the Royal Australian Air Force and will be operated on Australian E/A-18G Growler fleet to provide an airborne electronic attack system consisting of two pods containing active electronically scanned arrays that radiate in the mid-band frequency range.
Barbara Borgonovi, president of naval power at Raytheon, said, “Offensive electronic attack provides a tremendous combat capability supporting strike packages and kinetic weapons across a broad range of missions.”
Based on the F/A-18F Super Hornet design, the Boeing EA-18G Growler has proven itself to be an invaluable asset to the US when deployed overseas and provides Australia with a quantum leap in electronic attack capability.
“With this upgrade, we'll ensure our naval aviators in all theaters are better prepared to counter new adversary threats and provide greater combat power throughout their missions,” Borgonovi said.
The Growler incorporates several specialised technologies and modifications that differentiate it from the traditional Super Hornet, including:
- An additional avionics suite.
- Enhanced radio frequency receivers.
- An improved communications suite.
- ALQ radio-frequency jamming pods, which enable it to jam enemy systems.
Both the nation’s Super Hornet and Growler fleets are based at RAAF Base Amberley. The US Navy employs NGJ-MB on the EA-18G Growler to target advanced electronic warfare threats.
Work under this contract will take place in Dallas; Forest, Michigan; El Segundo, California; and Fort Wayne, Indiana, through 2027.
