Royal Australian Air Force Receives Next-Generation Jammer Pods for Growler Aircraft
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has integrated the AN/ALQ-249 Next-Generation Jammer-Medium Band (NGJ-MB) pods on its Boeing EA-18G Growler aircraft, enhancing its electronic warfare capabilities. This upgrade is part of a collaboration between the Australian Department of Defence and the US Pentagon, focusing on developing the NGJ systems to target threats in middle frequency bands.
The RAAF has ordered eight shipsets of the NGJ-MB, each consisting of two pods. Recent contracts include a USD368.3 million agreement between the US Navy and Raytheon for NGJ-MB production, and a USD580 million follow-on contract from May 2025 for additional pods, which also supports RAAF requirements. The aircraft was photographed at RAAF Base Williamtown with two NGJ-MB pods replacing older jamming systems.
