PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — The U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has awarded L3Harris Technologies an $876.4 million undefinitized contract modification for the continued Engineering, Manufacturing, and Development (EMD) of the Next Generation Jammer Low Band (NGJ-LB) tactical jamming pod. The system is designed to equip Boeing EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack (AEA) aircraft operated by the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
The modification expands L3Harris’s baseline $587.4 million EMD contract awarded in August 2024, funding non-recurring tooling, delivery of System Demonstration Test Article (SDTA) pods, advanced cybersecurity architectures, and extended flight-test support through fiscal year 2031. The program is co-funded by international partner Australia, which obligated $23 million in cooperative development funds at the time of award alongside $3.65 million in U.S. Navy research and development funding.
The NGJ-LB pod forms a key pillar in replacing legacy AN/ALQ-99 tactical jamming pods. Optimized against lower-frequency, long-range early warning and acquisition radars, the system enables EA-18G aircrews to execute high-power standoff electronic attack, suppressing integrated air defense systems (IADS) and protecting strike packages in contested electromagnetic operational theaters.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: NEXT GENERATION JAMMER LOW BAND (NGJ-LB)
* Platform Integration: Boeing EA-18G Growler Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) aircraft
* Primary Mission: Standoff Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) and offensive Electronic Warfare (EW)
* Target Spectrum: Low-frequency radio frequency (RF) spectrum targeting long-range early-warning and target-acquisition radar networks
* System Architecture: Active electronically scanned array transmitter technology paired with digital signal processing and high Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP) output
* Operational Capability: High-power simultaneous multi-target engagement, tailored electronic attack waveforms, and reduced aircrew workload
* Test & Production Scope: Non-recurring tooling, system demonstration test article (SDTA) pods, operational prototypes, and integrated cybersecurity suites
* Industrial Workshare: Salt Lake City, Utah (43%), Hollywood, Alabama (14.8%), Lansdale, Pennsylvania (8.1%), Clifton, New Jersey (8%), Boulder, Colorado (7.5%), with remaining activity distributed across California, Texas, New York, and Australia (3.4%)
* Program Support Schedule: Sustained development, software testing, and fleet logistics through FY2031
