The U.S. Navy declared initial operational capability for the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) system in December, bringing a quantum leap in capability over legacy systems with drastic increases in power, target flexibility and jamming technique for naval aviation operations worldwide.

The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) has selected Jacob Kiehlmeier as the civilian Tester of the Year for 2023. Kiehlmeier served as the lead test engineer for the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) Integrated Test Team (ITT) supporting the Airborne Electronic Attack Systems Program Office (PMA-234).

Kiehlmeier led a national integrated team and provided oversight during comprehensive testing of the Navy’s NGJ-MB electronic warfare pod. NGJ-MB was developed to augment and ultimately replace the ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System on the EA-18G Growler.

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 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.

Before returning to school, dozens of children received a lesson they would not learn in a classroom. On Aug. 16, the U.S. Navy’s Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) Systems Program Office (PMA-234) welcomed more than 75 family members and guests to the inaugural JAM Fest at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

Naval Air Systems Command’s Airborne Electronic Attack Systems Program Office (PMA-234) is turning to digital technology to improve readiness, explore new capabilities and expedite training.   

PMA-234 is in the early stages of using digital twins, which are virtual models designed to reflect a physical object accurately. PMA-234 has developed digital twin technology with an industry partner for the past six months.  

The U.S. Navy’s Jammer Technique Optimization (JATO) Point Mugu team for the Airborne Electronic Attack Systems Program Office (PMA-234) was named the recipient of the 2022 W. Edwards Deming Outstanding Training Award for Human Capital Management.

The Airborne Electronic Attack Systems Program Office (PMA-234) Test and Evaluation Lead escorted a team of students, known as the Bot Brigade Quartic, to the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Chesapeake Regional Championships, in Hampton, Virginia, where they won first place for their video submission for the Promote Award, Apr. 9 and 10.

Dan Ensminger has used his enthusiasm for engineering and program acquisition experience to lead 29 local youth robotics teams over the past 14 years.

For the first time, U.S. and Australian fleet aviation maintainers worked together on the newest Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) weapons system during a recent logistics demonstration conducted at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.

Five U.S. Navy Sailors and two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) airmen participated in a six-week training event in February and March with the AN/ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) pods that will be used on the EA-18G Growler aircraft.