Next Generation Jammer

The Next Generation Jammer is a program to develop an airborne electronic warfare system, as a replacement for the AN/ALQ-99 found on the EA-18G military aircraft. It will reach Initial Operating Capability in 2021.

The AN/ALQ-99 is currently mounted on the EA-18G Growler aircraft of the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force, as well as the now-retired EA-6B Prowler aircraft belonging to the U.S. Marine Corps.

In the primary role of suppression of air defenses, these aircraft are to provide modified escort jamming from outside the range of known surface to air missiles.

The poor reliability of the ALQ-99 and frequent failures of the Built In Test (BIT) have caused crew to fly missions with undetected faults; the ALQ-99 also interferes with the aircraft's AESA radar, reduces the top speed of the aircraft and imposes a high workload on the two man crew.

The United States Marine Corps is considering replacing their Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler electronic attack aircraft with F-35s that have stealthy jammer pods attached. On 30 September 2008, the United States Navy outlined the basic requirements of the NGJ and stated that the design must be modular and open. The Navy has selected four companies to submit designs for the Next Generation Jammer. The NGJ will also have cyber attack capabilities where the AESA radar is used to insert tailored data streams into remote systems. The ITT-Boeing design for the NGJ includes six AESA arrays for all around coverage. The team has been awarded a $42 million contract to develop their design based on ITT's experience with broadband electronically steerable antenna arrays. At the same time contracts were also awarded to Raytheon, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems.

After having existing jamming platforms thinly stretched over three wars during Operation Odyssey Dawn, the Navy accelerated the NGJ program and anticipated a vendor selection in 2013 instead of 2015 as previously planned.

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