Raytheon confirmed that Australia has acquired final 12 months its first Subsequent Era Jammer pods to switch the ALQ-99 pods at present utilized by the RAAF’s EA-18G Growlers.
Raytheon has confirmed on Apr. 20, 2026, that the Royal Australian Air Power (RAAF) has acquired the primary Subsequent Era Jammer (NGJ) pods to equip its EA-18G Growler fleet. The announcement follows pictures of an Australian Growler which was carrying the ALQ-249 NGJ-MB (Mid-Band) in December 2025.
The corporate mentioned that the “first supply of shipsets occurred forward of schedule in September 2025, with future deliveries persevering with by way of 2026.” Australia already figured within the contract awarded in December 2024 for the manufacturing of the pod, with 4 pairs meant for the RAAF.
The corporate describes the pod as “an airborne digital assault system containing lively electronically scanned arrays that radiate within the mid-band frequency vary.” Whereas not explicitly said, this additional confirms that the pod delivered is the NGJ-MB.
“This supply marks a big milestone in our collaborative efforts with the U.S. Navy and RAAF on NGJ,” mentioned Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Energy at Raytheon. “This superior know-how will drastically improve RAAF’s digital warfare capabilities, safeguarding very important property on its plane and extra successfully neutralizing adversary applied sciences throughout a variety of missions.”
Raytheon famous that NGJ is a cooperative growth and manufacturing program with the RAAF. In truth, Australia has been cooperating with the U.S. Navy since 2017 for the event and manufacturing of each the NGJ-MB and NGJ-LB (Subsequent Era Jammer – Low Band) pods, additional increasing the cooperation in 2020.
The service can be the one overseas operator of the EA-18G, though it does solely use them from land bases, opposite to the U.S. Navy. The RAAF operates 12 Growlers, assigned to No. 6 Squadron primarily based at RAAF Base Amberley.
The NGJ program
The U.S. Naval Air Techniques Command (NAVAIR) describes the NGJ as the subsequent step in Airborne Digital Assault (AEA). The NGJ mission is creating a alternative for the AN/ALQ-99 TJS (Tactical Jamming System) at present geared up by the EA-18G Growler, the specialised digital warfare variant of the Tremendous Hornet.
The AN/ALQ-99 is a really outdated platform, which first entered service in 1972 on the now-retired EA-6B Prowler, and thus might not be capable to cowl the complete spectrum of EW that’s required to neutralize right now’s threats, particularly within the present network-centric warfare. The pod additionally has a number of shortcomings, together with interfering with pleasant radars, being a big load on the airframe, and imposing a excessive workload on the two-man crew of the Growler.
Your complete NGJ household consists of three totally different pods, designated NGJ-MB (Mid Band), often known as Functionality Block/Increment 1; NGJ-LB (Low Band), aka Block/Increment 2; and NGJ-HB (Excessive Band), aka Block/Increment 3; and directed particularly in opposition to the low- (100 MHz to 2 GHz waveband), mid- (2 GHz to six GHz), and high-band (6 GHz to 18 GHz) sections of the general menace spectrum.
The AN/ALQ-249 NGJ-MB
The AN/ALQ-249 Subsequent Era Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) is a cutting-edge EW (Digital Warfare) pod that denies, disrupts and degrades superior radar threats, communications, information hyperlinks and non-traditional radio frequency threats. The system, in response to Raytheon, reduces adversary focusing on ranges, disrupts adversary kill chains and helps kinetic weapons till they attain their goal.
The NGJ-MB makes use of a completely digital, software-defined design, so the system gives speedy adaptability to rising threats. It additionally has a modular structure, simplifying upkeep and enabling future upgrades, guaranteeing that the system stays related all through its service life.
The jammer employs AESA antennas, which permit for extremely centered and dynamic jamming beams. This precision enhances effectiveness whereas minimizing interference with pleasant techniques. Along with jamming, the NGJ-MB additionally helps digital intelligence assortment, battlefield community disruption, and the suppression of enemy air defenses.
Within the 2024 Director, Operational Check & Analysis (DOT&E) report, it was talked about the NGJ-MB has 4 EA mission profiles: standoff, modified escort, penetrating escort, and stand-in jamming. Navy aircrews will primarily fly the standoff and modified escort profiles, in response to the doc.
The system has reached the preliminary operational functionality (IOC) in December 2024 with the U.S. Navy. On that event, the service mentioned the NGJ-MB brings “a quantum leap in functionality over legacy techniques with drastic will increase in energy, goal flexibility and jamming method for naval aviation operations worldwide.”
The Digital Assault Squadron (VAQ) 133, assigned to Service Air Wing 9 (CVW) 9 aboard the usAbraham Lincoln, grew to become the primary within the Navy to deploy with the brand new pod and use it in fight. The service mentioned on the time that the Wizards demonstrated the way forward for Airborne Digital Assault (AEA) by creating new techniques, reaching the primary NGJ arrested touchdown, and tactically using the system.
