Australia has expanded its partnership with the US to develop the Next Generation Jammer system for the EA-18G Growler.
Australia entered an initial agreement in October 2017 to work with the US Navy to develop the Next Generation Jammer, which will supersede the current system. This capability can disrupt, deceive or deny a broad range of military electronic systems, including radars and communications.
“We’ve now signed two new agreements to expand this partnership," Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said. "The first includes production, sustainment and follow-on development of the ALQ-249(V)1 Next Generation Jammer – Mid Band which supports the introduction of advanced electronic jamming technology, and will ensure Australia’s Growler aircraft retain commonality with their US counterparts.
“The second agreement enables the development of the next variant, the Next Generation Jammer – Low Band. These systems will augment, and ultimately replace, most legacy ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming Systems currently used on the Growler.”
The Next Generation Jammer - Low Band counters low frequency adversary systems, increasing survivability and lethality of 4th and 5th generation platforms and enables all-domain access for the joint force by supporting electromagnetic spectrum dominance.
“This is a rapidly evolving area and to ensure these aircraft remain at the technological forefront throughout their service life, we will continue to work in partnership with the US Navy to develop the next generation jamming capability,” Minister Reynolds said.