US Navy requests almost $460 million for Next Generation Jammer development
The US Navy has requested $459.5 million for 2019 to continue funding the development of the service’s Raytheon AN/ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer which is expected to equip the navy’s Boeing E/A-18G GROWLER electronic warfare aircraft from early next decade, replacing these aircraft’s existing Harris AN/ALQ-99 jammers.
The AN/ALQ-249, which is also expected to equip the Royal Australian Air Force’s EA-18Gs and the US Marine Corps’ Lockheed Martin F-35B LIGHTNING-II fighters will be deployed with the navy via a series of ‘blocks’ which will add ever-increasing levels of capability. Block-1, which will provide mid-band jamming, will debut from 2020 (reported earlier this year as now being 2021), with Block-2 providing jamming for undisclosed low-band frequencies being spun onto the AN/ALQ-249 from 2022, and Block-3, which will jam undisclosed high-band frequencies, following in 2024. Reports have stated that the US Navy may eventually purchase up to 135 AN/ALQ-249s.
Thomas Withington
