Navy’s Next-Gen Jammer reaches IOC

The Navy has declared initial operational capability for the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band system -- a jump in capability following problems with system immaturity that were noted by the Pentagon’s director of operational test and evaluation last year.

The system officially reached IOC in December the Navy confirmed in a news release Monday. The NGJ-MB consists of two pods under the EA-18G aircraft’s wings and is the first of three programs set to replace the AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jammer System currently used by the aircraft.

“Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band improves our fleet’s warfighting advantage in the electromagnetic spectrum,” Rear Adm. John Lemmon, Tactical Aircraft Programs executive officer, said in a statement. “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.”

NGJ-MB’s capabilities were on display during the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group’s five-month deployment earlier this year, the Navy’s news release confirmed. The jammer was deployed alongside Electronic Attack Squadron 133, the first time it has been used in combat.

“NGJ-MB will boost our fleet's ability to maintain spectrum dominance. Yielding new capabilities is critical for addressing current and future threats. The era of isolated surface-to-air missile systems, which operate within a non-agile and limited frequency range, is behind us,” said Lt. Cmdr. Michael Bedwell, EA-18G naval flight officer and NGJ-MB deputy integrated product team lead.

Hardware reliability issues and a lack of modeling were largely to blame for NGJ-MB delays in achieving initial operational test and evaluation and IOC, last year’s DOT&E report confirmed.

“Hardware reliability issues and a lack of validated or accredited digital models, which are derived from operational test data and are required to supplement NGJ-MB operational flight test evaluation, present a significant risk to NGJ-MB IOT&E,” the report said.