Marotta Controls has secured two contracts to supply components and engineering support for the US Navy’s Next Generation Jammer-Low Band (NGJ-LB), an airborne electronic warfare system being developed for the EA-18G Growler.
The New Jersey-based company will support the programme through two arrangements: a subcontract with CFD Research and a separate direct contract from L3Harris Technologies, the prime contractor responsible for the NGJ-LB programme.
Under its agreement with CFD Research, Marotta will provide technology for the Turbine Speed Control System, which forms part of the ram air turbine power-generation assembly housed within the NGJ-LB pod.
NGJ-LB to Replace Legacy Jamming Capability
The NGJ-LB is part of the US Navy’s broader Next Generation Jammer family, which is being developed to supplement and ultimately replace the AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System currently used by the EA-18G Growler.
The Growler is a specialized electronic-attack derivative of the F/A-18F Super Hornet. Its primary mission is to conduct airborne electronic warfare operations, including disrupting, denying or degrading adversary radar, communications and other electromagnetic systems.
The Next Generation Jammer programme is being developed across multiple frequency bands. The Low Band variant is intended to provide electronic-attack capabilities against threats operating in lower portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
In August 2024, the US Navy awarded L3Harris a $587.4 million engineering and manufacturing development contract for NGJ-LB. The five-year programme includes the production of eight operational prototype pods for fleet evaluation, as well as additional test equipment and assets supporting airworthiness and design verification activities.
The NGJ-LB is designed around digital processing and electronically scanned array technology, providing enhanced capabilities for airborne electronic attack missions. Its architecture is also intended to accommodate future upgrades as adversary threats and electronic warfare requirements evolve.
The US Navy has described NGJ-LB as the next increment of its airborne electronic-attack capability. The system is expected to support both US and Australian EA-18G Growler fleets, strengthening their ability to conduct electronic warfare missions in contested electromagnetic environments.
For Marotta Controls, the contracts represent the company’s entry into the airborne electronic warfare market, expanding its involvement in advanced military aerospace and electronic warfare technologies.
