The U.S. and Australian fleets are one step closer to getting the next increment of the U.S. Navy’s most advanced airborne electronic attack (AEA) system. The Navy awarded L3 Technologies Inc., Communication Systems-West a $587.4 million contract Aug. 26 for the engineering and manufacturing development of the Next Generation Jammer Low Band (NGJ-LB) system.

The E-2/C-2 Airborne Command and Control Systems Program Office (PMA-231) awarded a $16 million contract to Fuse Integration on Aug. 26 for the production of Fuse CORE 4.0 virtualized network systems for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.

CORE updates the E-2D’s external networking systems to a modern, software-based network as part of the E-2D’s Delta System Software Configuration (DSSC)-5 build.

The U.S. Navy awarded a $24 million contract to BAE Systems for the continued redesign of the AN/UPX-50(C) digital interrogator assemblies.

The cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is a modification to a previously issued basic ordering agreement to address parts obsolescence and implement solutions to achieve compliance with the latest specifications, qualification and certification standards for the Navy. Additionally, this order adds tasking for the integration of Target Report Processing capabilities into the Common Core DI, formerly hosted in the Interrogator Set, AN/UPX-24(V).

A new program manager took the helm of the E-2/C-2 Airborne Command and Control Systems Program Office (PMA-231) during a change of command ceremony Aug. 15.
 
Capt. Guillermo Carrillo assumed command from Capt. Pete Arrobio in a morning event held at the Rear Adm. William A. Moffett Building here.

The U.S. Navy awarded the Phoenix Air Group Inc. a $165 million contract June 28 for Contracted Air Services (CAS) flight hours to simulate a variety of airborne electronic warfare (EW) threats to train, test and evaluate shipboard personnel and aircraft squadron weapon systems operators and aircrew.

A retired and demilitarized AV-8B Harrier II+ was inducted into the Hickory Aviation Museum in the “First in Flight” state of North Carolina, July 15.

The aircraft, BUNO 164560, entered service in 1994 and flew with Marine Attack Squadrons (VMAs) 231, 542 and 223, logging 6,888 flight hours in support of multiple Marine Expeditionary Unit deployments, Operation Iraqi Freedom deployments, humanitarian efforts and Request for Forces.

Capt. Michael Orr relinquished command of the Next Generation Air Dominance (PMA-230) program office to Capt. Scott Johnson during a change of command ceremony June 20 at the base theater. 

The Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) Systems Program Office (PMA-234) hosted its inaugural JAMinar in June. The pilot program aimed to equip new program office personnel with valuable knowledge and program office-focused courses to better support PMA-234 and the warfighter.

The Advanced Tactical Aircraft Protection Systems Program Office (PMA-272) welcomed new leadership when Col. Russell A. “Bubba” Strange assumed command as program manager from Brig. Gen. Tamara Campbell during a change of command ceremony June 11 at the Rear Adm. William A. Moffett Building here.

PMA-272 manages the development, acquisition and sustainment of operational advances in aircraft survivability equipment.

Recently pinned as brigadier general, Campbell, served as the program manager since August 2020, taking the lead amid the COVID pandemic.

State-of-the-art VR provides cost benefits, improved student throughput

The Naval Aviation Training Systems and Ranges Program Office (PMA-205) “A” School Integrated Product Team (IPT) provided a rapid, cost effective and improved solution for upgrading aging “A” School Virtual Paint Simulator (VPS) training systems using state-of-the-art virtual reality technology.