The achievement of the IOC follows the first combat deployment of NGJ-MB with VAQ-133’s EA-18Gs embarked aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has disclosed on Jan. 6, 2025, that the U.S. Navy declared initial operational capability (IOC) for the AN/ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) system in December 2024. The service says the “IOC signals that the design, testing and production of this capability meet the logistical needs of the carrier air wings and EA-18G Growler squadrons.”
“Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band improves our fleet’s warfighting advantage in the electromagnetic spectrum,” said Rear Adm. John Lemmon, Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft Programs. “This system provides enhanced capabilities to deny, distract and disorient adversaries’ radars, protecting our naval aviators and allowing them to carry out their missions in contested airspace.”
The Navy also added the NGJ-MB brings “a quantum leap in capability over legacy systems with drastic increases in power, target flexibility and jamming technique for naval aviation operations worldwide.” The crews of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133 recently got a first-hand preview of these capabilities during their recent deployment aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
The unit, in fact, assigned to Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW) 9, became the first in the Navy to deploy with the new pod and use it in combat. The service said at the time that the Wizards demonstrated the future of Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) by developing new tactics, achieving the first NGJ arrested landing, and tactically employing the system.
The NGJ program
NAVAIR describes the NGJ as the next step in Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA). “NGJ is an evolutionary acquisition program providing capability in three increments: Mid-Band, Low Band, and High Band frequencies. Using the latest digital software and Active Electronically Scanned Array technologies, NGJ provides enhanced AEA capabilities to disrupt, deny, and degrade enemy air defense and ground communication systems. It brings increased power and jamming capability at longer ranges.”
The NGJ project is developing a replacement for the AN/ALQ-99 TJS (Tactical Jamming System) currently equipped by the EA-18G Growler, the specialized electronic warfare variant of the Super Hornet. The family of pods will provide comprehensive electromagnetic dominance to the aircraft in the 509 MHz to 18 GHz waveband.
The AN/ALQ-99 is a very old platform, which first entered service in 1972 on the now-retired EA-6B Prowler, and thus may not be able to cover the full spectrum of EW that is required to neutralize today’s threats, especially in the current network-centric warfare. The pod also has several shortcomings, including interfering with friendly radars, being a significant load on the airframe, and imposing a high workload on the two-man crew of the Growler.
The entire NGJ includes three different pods, designated NGJ-MB (Mid Band), also known as Capability Block/Increment 1; NGJ-LB (Low Band), aka Block/Increment 2; and NGJ-HB (High Band), aka Block/Increment 3; and directed specifically against the low- (100 MHz to 2 GHz waveband), mid- (2 GHz to 6 GHz), and high-band (6 GHz to 18 GHz) sections of the overall threat spectrum.
The AN/ALQ-249 NGJ-MB
The AN/ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) is a cutting-edge EW (Electronic Warfare) pod that denies, disrupts and degrades advanced radar threats, communications, data links and non-traditional radio frequency threats. The system, according to Raytheon, reduces adversary targeting ranges, disrupts adversary kill chains and supports kinetic weapons until they reach their target.
The NGJ-MB utilizes a fully digital, software-defined design, so the system offers rapid adaptability to emerging threats. It also has a modular architecture, simplifying maintenance and enabling future upgrades, ensuring that the system remains relevant throughout its service life. This capability ensures that the NGJ-MB remains effective against evolving enemy systems.
The jammer also employs AESA antennas, which allow for highly focused and dynamic jamming beams. This precision enhances effectiveness while minimizing interference with friendly systems. In addition to jamming, the NGJ-MB also supports electronic intelligence collection, battlefield network disruption, and the suppression of enemy air defenses.
According to RTX, the NGJ-MB jammer gives EA-18G crew an edge in today’s extremely contested electromagnetic spectrum through the following:
- Operating at significantly enhanced ranges;
- Attacking multiple targets simultaneously;
- Advanced jamming techniques;
- Rapid upgrades through a modular, open systems architecture;
- Scaling to other missions and platforms.
“NGJ-MB is a revolutionary offensive electronic attack system for the joint force that puts a critical combat capability in the hands of our Navy warfighters,” Barbara Borgonovi, President of Naval Power at Raytheon, said in a statement. “We’re working with the U.S. Navy to ensure NGJ-MB provides the advanced electronic warfare solution needed as quickly as possible.”
In the latest Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) report, it is mentioned the NGJ-MB has four EA mission profiles: standoff, modified escort, penetrating escort, and stand-in jamming. Navy aircrews will primarily fly the standoff and modified escort profiles, according to the document.
NGJ pods’ combination
The NGJ-MB and -HB pods were expected to replace the two ALQ-99 pods that Growlers carry under each wing, while the NGJ-LB, will replace the low-band pod that the aircraft carry on the centerline store position under the fuselage. As the program progressed, Growlers have been operating with two NGJ-MB pods under the wings and an ALQ-99 on the centerline.
In the DOT&E report, it is mentioned that NGJ-MB airborne electronic attack (EA) system indeed consists of two pods. However, the report mentions that “The NGJ-MB is the first of three programs comprising the planned Next Generation Jammer upgrade,” apparently confirming that all three pods are still moving forward, even if no news is available about NGJ-HB.
Adding to the confusion, Raytheon has also been recently awarded a $192 million contract to develop an upgrade the NGJ-MB system, called Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band Expansion (NGJ-MBX). This modification will extend the frequency range of the NGJ-MB system to counter additional threats, says the company.
The latter, may suggest the NGJ-MBX will in the end replace the NGJ High Band pod, considering that there hasn’t been any line item in Navy budgets since at least fiscal 2020 and the NAVAIR website does not mention it.
It is being reported that, in order to expedite the fielding of NGJ-MBX, the Navy skipped the competitive process and awarded the contract to Raytheon. “The Navy requires initial operational capability of the NGJ MBX system by [fiscal 2027] to meet a known threat,” said the service.
The Navy also added that choosing another manufacturer could have caused a delay of at least five years. This delay was deemed unacceptable as it would “negatively affect the ability for the Navy and the RAAF to counter enemy electronic attack threats.” Some of the pod’s subsystems, such as the radomes and the advanced frequency converter module, will be modified to cover the upper frequency range.
The NGJ-MB’s timeline
The first NGJ-MB, an Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) pod, was delivered to the U.S. Navy in Aug. 2019 to be used to perform ground and aircraft integration testing. The pod was part of a first contract to Raytheon to deliver 15 EMD pods for mission systems testing and qualification as well as 14 aeromechanical pods for airworthiness certification.
A year later, in Aug. 2020, an EA-18G Growler of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 flew for the first time with the new NGJ-MB pod from Naval Air Station Patuxent River (Maryland). This first flight was called a Safety of Flight (SOF) checkout, used to verify that the Growler can fly safely with the pod attached under its wings before proceeding with further test flights.
In July 2021, RTX was awarded the contract for the low-rate initial production (LRIP) Lot I. A year later, in July 2022, the Navy received the first production representative NGJ-MB pods to be used to complete developmental testing (DT) and begin operational testing (OT), as it requires the use of operationally representative hardware and software.
After the pod started reaching operational units, in 2024 Electronic Attack Squadron 133 (VAQ-133), assigned to Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW) 9, became the first to deploy operationally with the new pod. The unit also became the first to employ the pod in combat during the five-month deployment which saw the Growlers contributing to strikes aimed at disrupting Houthi weapons storage facilities.
The Navy was aiming to declare initial operational capability (IOC) for the NGJ-MB system before the end of September 2024 after development snags set back the test schedule. However, the milestone was postponed again and the IOC was finally reached by the end of the year.
