Summary
- NGJ mid-band IOC by September
- NGJ enhances EW capabilities
- Growlers to carry ALQ-249 pods and replace aging ALQ-99 pods
Electronic warfare or SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defense) is an important capability of the US Air Force and Navy. The Navy relies on the EA-18G fighter jet to provide SEAD and plans to achieve initial operational capability for the Next-Generation Jammer’s mid-band system in the next couple of months. The ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) Mid-Band is an external carriage AEA capability for the Growlers focusing on the middle-frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) IOC before end of September
The Navy emphasizes its electronic warfare capabilities as a critical capability to ensure the US Navy has the upper hand in any conflict. Aviation Week states, “The U.S. Navy is aiming to declare initial operational capability (IOC) for the Next-Generation Jammer’s mid-band system before the end of September after development snags set back the test schedule.”
The ALG-249 next-generation jammer is intended to augment and eventually replace legacy ALG-99 systems currently used on Growlers and is the next step in Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA). Navair states that it is “…needed to meet advanced and emerging electronic warfare (EW) threats and provide continuous expansion of the AEA mission area… It brings increased power and jamming capability at longer ranges… NGJ will be a game-changer for the warfighter and EW community.”
The Low Rate Initial Production III contract was awarded in March 2023, and the first production pods were delivered to the Navy in July 2023. The program is a joint program between the US DoD and Australia. Another jammer program for the Growler is the Next Generation Jammer Low Band (NGJ-LB), which operates (as the name suggests) in the lower frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum.

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Importance of modern electronic warfare
The new generation will provide enhanced capabilities to disrupt, deny, and degrade enemy air defense and ground communication systems. The inability of the (on-paper) large and powerful Russian Air Force to conduct SEAD and DEAD (Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses) missions against Ukraine’s small and aging air force and air defense systems underscores the importance of the capability.
Photo: United States Navy
According to the US Navy, Growlers currently carry the ALG–218 receivers, ALQ-99 tactical jamming pods, ALQ-227 Communication Countermeasures Set, and Joint Tactical Terminal – Receiver (JTT-R) satellite communications. The eventual integration of the ALQ-249 Next Generation Jamming Pods will help ensure the Growlers are equipped with the latest electronic attack technology.

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EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft
The EA-18G Growler is a powerful, dedicated electronic warfare aircraft derived from the F/A-18 Super Hornet. It is a two-seat specialized version of the Super Hornet of the F/A-18 family (it was built to replace the aging EA-6B Prowlers). Far from being limited to electronic warfare, the Growlers are capable of all the F/A-18E/F’s multi-mission capabilities.
While mostly used by the US Navy, the Royal Australian Air Force also uses the Growler. EA-18G Glowers are designed to operate off US Navy aircraft carriers (although Australia uses them as land-based aircraft).