U.S. and Australia Expand Next Gen Jammer Cooperative Partnership

16 Juli 2020

Next generation jammer (image : USNI)

The. U.S. Department of Defense and Australian Department of Defence officially expanded their Next Generation Jammer cooperative partnership to increase joint capabilities in the future on July 13.

The two countries signed a Next Generation Jammer Low Band (NGJ-LB) Project Arrangement (PA) to ensure commonality on future jamming variants. The jointly managed cooperative partnership gives both countries more benefits to include shared costs and risks.

“Our processes are further enhanced by international partnerships like this one,” said Rear Adm. Shane Gahagan, Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft Programs. “I commend everyone involved in making this happen for their great work so that together we can reduce costs and increase capabilities for our partners and our Navy.”

The NGJ-LB capability is part of a larger NGJ system that will augment, and ultimately replace the ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System (TJS) currently used on the EA-18G Growler aircraft. This expanded partnership will allow commonality between the two countries who both operate the Growler.

“This expanded partnership with Australia to develop the newest Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) jamming capability shows the level of commitment of both countries to ensure continued   superiority of the electromagnetic spectrum,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Michael Orr, AEA Systems program manager (PMA-234), who oversees all NGJ programs. “The NGJ-LB PA allows for joint sharing of the best technologies in the world, furthering the AEA capabilities of both the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).”

The NGJ-LB program is currently in the materiel solutions analysis phase executing two Demonstration of Existing Technologies contracts with L3Harris and Northrop Grumman Corporation. The program will enter the next phase of acquisition when the Capability Block 1 contract is awarded fall 2020. NGJ-LB will utilize the latest digital and software-based technologies that will address advanced and emerging threats in the lower frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. 

Additionally, the two countries signed a second memorandum of agreement in May to enter production, sustainment and follow-on development of the AN/ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) and follow-on variants.

“Having a cooperative sustainment strategy will increase military effectiveness at home and abroad, strengthen technology capabilities, and reduce a duplication of effort across nations,” said Orr.

The NGJ-MB program is currently in the Engineering and Manufacturing Development stage and will begin developmental flight testing on the EA-18G Growler this summer. The program expects to complete Milestone C this fall with a Low Rate Initial Production contract award to follow.

PMA-234 is responsible for acquiring, delivering and sustaining AEA systems, providing combatant commanders with capabilities that enable mission success.

(NavAir)