U.S. Navy Electronic Attack Squadron 133 Becomes First to Deploy ALQ-249 Next-Generation Jammer

The U.S. Navy’s Electronic Attack Squadron 133 (VAQ-133) returned to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island on December 14 after a five-month deployment, marking the first use of the ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer (NGJ).

The squadron, comprising 153 Sailors, 18 aircrew, and seven EA-18G Growlers, departed Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, on July 13. They conducted missions across the Middle East, Eastern Pacific, and South China Sea, supporting U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and CENTCOM to enhance regional stability and deter threats.

VAQ-133 became the first Navy squadron to deploy and operate the ALQ-249 NGJ in combat, developing new tactics, executing the first arrested landing with the system, and employing it operationally.

The squadron supported dual-carrier operations with the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), conducting combat sorties and strikes targeting weapons storage facilities to counter Iranian-backed Houthi activities and protect U.S. forces.

While in the U.S. 7th Fleet, VAQ-133 participated in a Multi-Large Deck Exercise with the Italian Navy’s ITS Cavour Carrier Strike Group and contributed to South China Sea operations to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Next-Generation Jammer

Next-Generation Jammer (NGJ) advances Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) capabilities to address emerging electronic warfare threats. It operates across three increments: Mid-Band (MB), Low Band (LB), and High Band frequencies. NGJ enhances disruption of enemy air defenses and communications using digital software and Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technologies, offering increased power, longer-range jamming, and rapid updates to counter evolving threats.

NGJ will eventually replace the ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System on EA-18G Growler aircraft. As an external carriage system, NGJ-MB targets mid-frequency bands and includes two pods per set, along with minor modifications to the Growler for compatibility. NGJ-MB achieved Milestone C in 2021, entered Production and Deployment, and delivered its first pods in July 2023 under a Low Rate Initial Production III contract awarded in March 2023.

Both NGJ-MB and NGJ-LB are joint programs between the U.S. and Australian defense departments. NGJ-LB, now in the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase, will address threats in lower frequency bands using digital and software-based technologies.