The third and final day of Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) participation in the Sea-Air-Space Expo 2023, hosted by the Navy League, wrapped up with a presentation by Capt. David Rueter, program manager of PMA-234, NAVAIR’s Airborne Electronic Attack Systems Program Office, and an “ask me anything” follow-up by Shelby Butler, director of NAVAIR’s Office of Small Business Programs, who had hosted the Office of Small Business Programs presentation on the first day of the expo.

PMA-234 develops radar jamming systems for fighter jets including the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) Mid-Band and NGJ Low Band, AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System, AN/ALQ-231 Intrepid Tiger II and Advanced AEA Development.

“We put the fog in the fog of war,” Rueter said. “Our whole job is to put that question in our adversaries’ heads that are they really seeing what they are seeing.”

Reuter updated the status of the NGJ Mid-Band as approaching deployment later this year, while development continues with the NGJ Low-Band. Both are cooperative ventures with Australia. He also noted that legacy systems, such as the AN/ALQ-99, keep being updated with modern technology to keep them relevant and capable.

Rueter gave his opinion as to what he saw necessary as a government/industry team, specifically the need for open architecture approaches.

“We are working hard with our Navy program offices as well as other program offices from the other services to really define for electronic warfare the right standards we need to be implementing,” he said.”

In addition, he said collaboration is needed is to continue to develop higher powered systems and digital engineering to outpace threats.

Butler moderated the Office of Small Business Q and A, which featured Irma Alexander, deputy director of the Office of Small Business Programs; Terressa Bebout, deputy director of Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers; Lawrence Butts, deputy director of Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD); and Leslie Faircloth, deputy director of Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD).

Alexander responded to a question as to what constitutes a small business in stating a micro small business is made up of 10 people or less while other small business thresholds are determined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), and said that small businesses can look up their classification by going to the Small Business Association (SBA) website.

Faircloth explained there is value in pursuing joint ventures between small business and the government, but said developing a working relationship was important.

Butts shared a story where during a conference, an industry partner once asked the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition how he could get his product noticed and out to Navy buyers. In response, the assistant secretary gave out his email address to the audience and said he was going to direct all deputy program managers in all the major buying commands to act as a small business advocate for their organization.

“Everybody here who is a small business owner, make sure you [get in contact] with us so that we can have a conversation about all these things,” he said. “We can go over how to get visibility. What we try to do is when we have those conversations is to give you those tips on how to maneuver within the ecosystem that we have.”

Sea-Air-Space brings the U.S. defense industry and key military decision-makers together for three days of informative educational sessions, important policy discussions and a dynamic exhibit hall floor. Owned and produced by the Navy League of the United States, Sea-Air-Space attracts maritime leaders from sea services around the globe.