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The US Navy's Next Generation Jammer program is in the mandatory Analysis of Alternatives stage. Different options that meet the program's requirements will be evaluated during the stage, such as upgrading the existing ALQ-99 jamming pods instead of replacing them.

The US Army upgraded its RC-12 Guardrail/Common Sensor and RC-7 Airborne Reconnaissance Low signals intelligence aircraft. The aircraft received sensors such as the Enhanced Situational Awareness subsystem and the Communications High-Accuracy Location Sub-systems-Compact. The upgrades also extended the operational lives of the aircraft beyond 2020.

The US Navy was directed by senior Department of Defense officials to buy 26 additional EA-18G Growler support jamming aircraft. The aircraft will be used to augment four expeditionary squadrons providing jamming support for Air Force combat aircraft.

The United States Navy has released the final Broad Agency Announcement for Technology Maturation contracts under its Next-Generation Jammer program. The program will replace the ALQ-99 external jamming pods on some aircraft. Successful bids will receive 10 to 14-month contracts valued at $15 to $30 million.

The US Army is launching a program aimed at upgrading its Duke V2 improvised explosive device jammers. The Army plans to award one or two five-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts as part of the program.

The CH-53D helicopters of the US Marine Corps will be equipped with the laser-based Directional Infrared Countermeasures system from Northrop Grumman. The system features a laser jam head on either side of the aircraft and five warning sensors.

The US Navy has started the development program for a Next-Generation Jammer (NGJ) that will be able to defeat enemy radars and communications networks by 2015-2020. The NGJ is scheduled to replace the ALQ-99 airborne tactical jamming system.

The upgradation of SLQ-32 electronic warfare systems of the United States navy is discussed.

The Association of Old Crows held its 47th International Symposium and Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, on 3-7 October 2010. Military officials discussed electronic warfare programs being undertaken by their branches.

The US Naval Surface Warfare Center issued a request for information for potential performance improvements to the Dismounted Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic warfare jammer. The agency wants a jammer with a reduced size, weight, and generated noise as well as higher range.

The US Air Force is converting a WC-130H aircraft into an EC-130H Compass Call turboprop aircraft for $176.6 million. It is also requesting $89.9 million for the development of the jammer variant of its Miniature Air-Launched Decoy.

The US Army is proceeding with the development of laser-based and -directed infrared countermeasures system for its rotary-wing aircraft. Managers for the Common Infrared Countermeasures program want to lower the system's weight requirement to below 120 pounds.

The vehicle-mounted Prophet Enhanced signals intelligence system will be delivered to the US Army starting in October 2009. The system from General Dynamics can detect, identify, and locate enemy communications emitters and perform stationary and mobile direction-finding.

The US Marine Corps plans to convert a Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron, equipped with EA-6B Prowler aircraft, into a Fleet Replacement Squadron by 2010. The USMC plans to keep the Prowler aircraft until 2012 as the US Navy has begun deactivating its Prowler squadrons.

Sierra Nevada Corp. won a three-company competition to manufacture Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW)3.1 dismounted backpack jammers for the US military. Thor III, the latest among Sierra Nevada's backpack jammers, was bid by the company.

The US Marine Corps is developing a threefold strategy regarding its future airborne electronic attack capabilities. The strategy involves the use of an electronic warfare variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, the Next-Generation Jammer, and unmanned electronic warfare aircraft.

The US Army selected General Dynamics C4 Systems to equip Army vehicles with the Prophet Enhanced signals intelligence system. Prophet Enhanced involves a retrofit of the Prophet Spiral 1 electronics support system and features an open-system architecture.

The first US Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters equipped with laser-based directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) flew their first operational flight in Al Anbar, Iraq, on 18 January 2009. The AAQ-24 countermeasures will also be installed in CH-46E and CH-53D helicopters.

The US Office of Naval Research released a request for proposals for the Integrated Topside technology project in January 2009. The technology aims to reduce the number of topside apertures on US Navy ships.

The US Air Force cancelled the B-52 Core Component Jammer development program. The Air Force will be using the expendable Miniature Air-Launched Decoys and the EC-130H Compass Call communications-jamming aircraft in the absence of a jammer for the B-52.

The US Army plans to buy a new flare to replace the M206, M211, and M212 flares used by its AH-64, UH-60 and MH-47 helicopters. It rescheduled an industry day set for October 2008 aimed at buying a flare that would satisfy the requirements for the XM216 multipurpose flare.

BAE Systems and ITT have successfully demonstrated their proposals for the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement (SEWIP) Block 2, an upgrade for the SLQ-32 electronic support measures system. The upgrades, which were demonstrated as part of the Rim of the Pacific maritime exercise, modernize the system's receiver, antenna, and combat system interface.

Raytheon Missile Systems announced that it is due to offer an upgrade to the AGM-88C High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM), the HARM Destruction of Enemy Air Defense Attack Module. The module is a competitor to the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile, which is being developed by the US Navy and the Italian Air Force.

Northrop Grumman successfully tested its communications intelligence sensor package aboard the US Army's RC-12 Guardrail aircraft in February 2008. The package, developed from the company's Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload, exceeded system stability and performance expectations while meeting basic Guardrail requirements.

The US Air Force Research Laboratory awarded Boeing Co. a three-year, $15 million contract for designing wingtip jamming pods under the B-52 Core Component Jammer (CCJ) program. The AFRL also awarded CCJ development contracts to Northrop Grumman, ITT, and Raytheon.

The Joint Electronic Warfare Center concluded an assessment of the electronic warfare capabilities of the Department of Defense. The study was completed in time for budget preparations for fiscal year 2010 and identified electronic warfare capabilities in the near- to mid-term time frames.

The US Air Force released a solicitation for a Distributed Common Ground System Block 20 integrator. The integrator aims to improve signals intelligence exploitation and integration with imagery intelligence.

The Department of Defense included cyber operations in its Quadrennial Roles and Missions Review to eliminate duplications of capabilities and efforts. The review seeks to determine the Department's views on cyber operations, which were defined specifically as computer network operations.

The EA-6B Prowler jamming aircraft of the US Marine Corps have been upgraded to improve intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities through the installation of Litening targeting pods. The upgraded aircraft will operate in Iraq starting in the summer of 2008.

The Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle from Northrop Grumman was selected by the US Navy for its Broad Area Maritime Surveillance program. The RQ-4N maritime version of the US Air Force Global Hawk can fly up to 65,000 feet high and detect, classify, and identify maritime and littoral targets.

The Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile of the US Navy underwent a successful missile firing test, keeping it on track for production in 2008 and fielding in 2010. The supersonic missile is the planned successor to the AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile of the US Navy and Air Force.

The US Army is seeking capability statements for developing modifications to the DARWARS Ambush! computer-based training system. Ambush! is a squad-level tool that teaches squads and their commanders about detection and response to ambushes, including improvised explosive devices.

The C-130 transports of the US Air Force's Air Mobility Command will be the first aircraft fitted with the new ALR-69A(V) digital radar warning receivers (RWR). Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems was awarded an $11.9 million contract for production and installation of the RWRs on C-130 aircraft.

The US Navy launched the EPX program, which is aimed at developing a replacement for the EP-3E Aries II aircraft. The Navy envisions the EPX as an aircraft capable of carrying electronic, communications, and imagery intelligence sensors and plans to award study contracts totaling $5 million.

Textron Inc. will buy United Industrial Corp. for about $1.1 billion. One of the latter's subsidiaries is AAI Corp. which manufactures electronic warfare equipment and unmanned aerial vehicles. Details of the merger are presented.

Northrop Grumman Integrated System was US Naval Air Systems Command's choice for conducting a six-year Unmanned Combat Air Systems Technical Demonstration (UCAS-D). The company will build two X-47B aircraft, supply two mission control segments and a suppport segment. The UCAS-D, an offshoot of the previous Joint Unmanned Combat Aircraft System, aims to advance critical technologies, reduce unmanned air system integrations risks and provide necessary information to support a potential follow-on acquisition milestone.

The flight testing of Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile system of United States Navy is discussed. The missile's use in suppression of enemy air defenses is detailed.

The United States Army has enhanced its fleet of Guardrali/ Common Sensor Signals-Intelligence (SIGNIT) aircraft. Features of this advanced version are discussed.

The decision of the United States Department of Defense to focus on electronic warfare as part of its 'information operations' program is discussed.

Electronic warfare battle management (EWBM) is gaining increased attention in the US armed services. The development of robust EWBM capabilities requires the development of information systems, data links, and jammers.

The Office of Naval Research awarded task order contracts to Northrop Grumman and Raytheon under the Integrated Topside technology project. Northrop Grumman received a $109.4 million contract, while Raytheon got a $108.6 million contract.

The US Army is conducting a market survey for its planned Tactical Signals-Intelligence Payload (TSP). The TSP would provide an unmanned aircraft system for mapping electronic emitters.

The US Naval Air Systems Command released drafts of requests of proposals and statements of work for the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the Joint and Allied Threat Awareness System program. The phase is projected to start in 2011 with one contractor team.

The US Army accepted bids for the development of its Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance aircraft. The King Air 350ER turboprop aircraft will serve as the platform for the planned aircraft.

The US Marine Corps received its first three EA-6B Prowler jamming aircraft equipped with the Improved Capability (ICAP) III suite. The ICAP III suite has the ALQ-218 digital wideband receiver, which has selective-reactive surgical jamming and geo-location capabilities.a

The US Marine Corps completed a two-day field test of the electronic warfare concept called the Collaborative Online Reconnaissance Provider

The US Department of Defense released its Quadrennial Defense Review for 2010, which stressed the need to improve the military's electronic attack capabilities. It also emphasized the need for improved cyberspace capabilities and acquisition reform.

The US Army's RC-12X Guardrail signals intelligence aircraft is due to begin flight testing as it has completed electromagnetic interference and compatibility testing. The Guardrail, developed by Northrop Grumman Mission Systems-ESL, is a modified Hawker Beechcraft King Air B200 twin-turboprop and will be delivered to the US Army starting in the summer of 2010.

The Office of Naval Research awarded five-year contracts to 18 different companies under the Integrated Topside technology project. The project aims to reduce the number of topside radio frequency apertures on the US Navy's surface ships by developing a common set of open architecture hardware and software.