U.S. EA-18G Growlers getting new electronic warfare system

ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Electronic warfare systems for U.S. Navy and Australian EA-18G Growlers are to be produced by DRS Technologies Inc., the company announced.

The Joint Tactical Terminal Receivers are to be produced under an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity award from the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, in Indiana, which combines U.S. Navy orders and orders placed by Australia through the Foreign Military Sales program.

As many as 180 of the systems could be produced under the award, which has a value of as much as $12 million, and which also provides for test set racks, fixtures and tooling.

"We are proud to provide this key intelligence capability to the U.S. and Australian EA-18G fleets," said Sally Wallace, president of the DRS Technologies C4ISR business group. "Its critical threat, targeting and mission planning data provide improved communications for delivering a distinct advantage to U.S. Navy and Australian 'Growler' aviators flying the most advanced naval airborne electronic attack platform in the world."

The JTT-R is an ultra-high-frequency receiver. It provides near real-time, over the horizon threat data for situational awareness and assessment, threat avoidance, targeting, mission planning and communications.

DRS says it has been developing the JTT-R system since 2009 as a replacement to the legacy Multi-mission Advanced Tactical Terminal now used on the aircraft.