Jammer pod in wind tunnel tests

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CLIFTON, N.J., Dec. 21 (UPI) -- A next-generation pod for electronic jamming equipment for the U.S. Navy's EA-18G aircraft has undergone wind tunnel testing by ITT Exelis and Boeing.

The testing, part of the companies' bid to secure a contract for jammer pods was observed at NASA's Langley Research Center in Virginia by U.S. Navy representatives.

"The wind tunnel test operations validated our engineering team's projections, so now we're preparing for the next step of in-flight testing," said Bob Ferrante, vice president and general manager of Exelis Electronic Systems' airborne electronic attack business.

The Next Generation Jammer program represents complete modernization of the jammer system. Included is increased power generation by the embedded ram air turbine to operate the jammer system's transmitter and other electronics.

Rick Martin, Boeing's Advanced Military Aircraft chief engineer, said a demonstration of the Exelis-Boeing team's power generation system proved successful.

"This work takes us one step closer to fielding the next major capability step in the EA-18G electronic attack arsenal," he said.