Northrop Grumman [NOC] said on Wednesday it is teaming up with Harris Corporation [HRS] and Comtech Telecommunications Corp. [CMTL] to work on the Navy’s Next Generation Jammer-Low Band (NGJ-LB).

Last month Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) awarded Northrop Grumman and L3 Technologies [LLL] each contracts worth over $35 million to demonstrate and test technologies that may provide solutions for the low band section of the NGJ program.

An E/A-18 Growler electronic attack aircraft in the foreground shadowed by a F/A-18 Super Hornet. Photo by Boeing.
An E/A-18 Growler electronic attack aircraft in the foreground shadowed by a F/A-18 Super Hornet. Photo by Boeing.

Northrop Grumman’s contract runs for 20 months.

That award came after the Government Accountability Office denied a protest by Raytheon [RTN], which is already working on the mid-band portion of the jammer (Defense Daily, Oct. 26).

NAVAIR is splitting the replacement for the legacy ALQ-99 tactical jammer system on the EA-18G Growler into three sections: low, mid, and high band frequencies. The Navy is aiming to have these new electronic attack capabilities help defeat or counter enemy air defenses and communications systems.

Northrop Grumman said in this team Harris will provide “cutting-edge electronic attack equipment” developed in its North Amityville, N.Y., facility.

The company added that Harris’ equipment will be integrated with Northrop Grumman’s NGJ-LB pod “to provide a modular, scalable, and reconfigurable capability” helping the Navy keep up with current threats.

Ed Zoiss, president of Harris Electronic Systems, highlighted his company’s experience with the Growler and investment in open architecture systems are “ready made” for the Navy’s next-generation jammer.

“Our work on NGJ-LB also advances the company’s strategy to extend into new EW markets through pods and unmanned systems,” Zoiss added.

Separately, Comtech subsidiary Comtech PST in Melville, N.Y., will provide high-power radio frequency amplifier systems.

“Our long-standing relationship and position as a premier provider of high power RF systems positions the team well to support the Next Generation Jammer program for years to come. We look forward to a very successful partnership,” Michael Hrybenko, president of Comtech PST, said in a statement.

Northrop Grumman noted it is currently the airborne electronic attack integrator for the current EA-18G Growler electronic warfare (EW) system.