The US Navy has received its first Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) pod to start tests with the US Navy’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23.

Delivered by Raytheon, the mid-band engineering development model is the first of 15 pods Raytheon will deliver for mission systems testing and qualification.

Members of the combined Airborne Electronic Attack Systems Program Office (PMA-234), Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 and industry partners will start various verification and test procedures in preparation for the second pod delivery early fall.

The US Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) program is being developed to augment, and ultimately replace the EA-18G Growler aircraft’s aging ALQ-99 tactical jammer with advanced airborne electronic attack capabilities for defeating increasingly advanced and capable threats.

It is scheduled to achieve initial operational capability in 2021.

Developed in three frequency-focused increments – high-band, mid-band and low-band – NGJ will be capable of jamming multiple radar signals at the same time, including surveillance and air-defense radars.