Advanced Electronic Attack Solution for USN GROWLERs

Cobham and Lockheed Martin are joining forces to address the Next Generation Jammer Low Band (NGJ-LB) competition, intended to equip the US Navy’s (USN) E/A-18 GROWLER aircraft.

The NGJ-LB system will be integrated on the EA-18G aircraft and will replace the ALQ-99 low band tactical jamming system that has been deployed on the EA-6B PROWLER and now the EA-18G GROWLER. The NGJ-LB system will provide significantly greater electronic attack (EA) capabilities in the lower frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum against modern threats.  

Cobham developed and was the only production partner to the USN for the ALQ-99 Low Band Transmitter/Antenna Group (LBT/AG) and has been the sole continuous supplier of ALQ-99 Airborne Electronic Attack transmitters to the USN since initial operational deployment in 1972. Cobham is the only company to continuously provide ALQ-99 Airborne Electronic Attack transmitters to the U.S. Navy since the initial operational deployment of the EA-6B in 1972, delivering over 850 transmitters. Since that time, Cobham has invested in cutting edge Gallium Nitride (GaN) power amplifier and antenna technology to ensure the Navy’s high performance, reliability, and sustainability needs are met. Cobham’s latest ALQ-99 Low Band Transmitter has provided critical protection for US and coalition armed forces since 2005.

Lockheed Martin has been developing EW solutions for more than 40 years and has experience with various other airborne and naval electronic warfare programmes, including the Advanced Off-Board Electronic Warfare (AOEW) system and the multi-mission AN/ALQ-210 and AN/ALQ-217 Electronic Support Measures (ESM) systems for the USN, which provide situational awareness, threat warning and proven EW solutions to detect, track and deter incoming threats.

“Cobham has continued to invest in state-of-the-art, next generation Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) transmitter capabilities for the EA-18G community and looks forward to continuing to deliver reliable and scalable solutions well into the future,” commented the Senior Vice President of Cobham Integrated Electronic Solutions, Jim Barber. “Our strong partnership with Lockheed Martin on programmes such as AOEW and the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block 2, along with our collective capabilities and heritage with the electronic warfare community, will provide the best value for the US Navy.”

“The Lockheed Martin and Cobham team will leverage expertise in both companies to offer the US Navy a critically important system with increased capability and reduced risk,” added Lockheed Martin’s Director of EW, Joe Ottaviano. “Our team is confident we can meet the Navy’s need for improved jamming capabilities with a scalable, open architecture design that balances capabilities with size, weight and power constraints.”