NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – The U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon Co. an approximately $1 billion Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract on April 13 for the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) Increment 1 (Inc. 1) system.
NGJ Inc. 1 is an external jamming pod that will disrupt and degrade enemy aircraft and ground radar and communication systems.
The contract supports the final design efforts and manufacturing of 15 Engineering Development Model pods and 14 aeromechanical pods that will be used for various levels of testing to include air worthiness, functionality, integration with other systems, and carriage on the host aircraft.
“Fulfilling our warfighters’ needs is the core of PMA-234’s mission. We are now one step closer to providing them with this critical capability,” said Capt. John Bailey, Airborne Electronic Attack Systems and EA-6B Program Office (PMA-234) program manager. “Significant milestones were completed during the Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction phase that culminated in establishment of a preliminary design, as informed by critical subsystem prototype development and testing,” he said. “This effort has reduced risk moving forward, and I’m elated that we’ve entered the EMD phase.”
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Mr. Frank Kendall signed the Acquisition Decision Memorandum April 5 signifying his satisfaction with NGJ Inc. 1’s proposed cost, schedule and performance intentions.
The NGJ Critical Design Review is scheduled for early to mid-2017. This multi-disciplined technical review, which is conducted during the EMD phase and when the product baseline has been achieved, ensures that a system can proceed into fabrication, demonstration and test, and can meet stated performance requirements within cost, schedule and risk.
NGJ Inc. 1 will replace the AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System currently integrated on the EA-18G Growler aircraft. It will address advanced and emerging threats alike, as well as the growing numbers of threats.
For more news from Naval Air Systems Command, visit www.navair.navy.mil.