PATUXENT RIVER, Md. - The Naval Air Systems Command awarded Northrop Grumman Corp., Mission Systems in Linthicum, Md., a $61,333,595 firm-fixed-price contract for production and delivery of electronic warfare receiver components supporting the EA-18G AN/ALQ-218 system.
The contract provides for 28 B-kit shop replaceable assemblies supporting the EA-18G AN/ALQ-218 Weapons Replaceable Assembly (WRA)-7 processor unit, 30 B-kit subsystems supporting the WRA-8 Digital Measurement Receiver (DMR), and 77 low-band dedicated receiver subsystems supporting the WRA-8 architecture. The effort also includes associated technical data required to support system upgrades.
The AN/ALQ-218 serves as the EA-18G Growler’s primary electronic warfare receiver suite, providing passive radio frequency detection, identification, and geolocation support for airborne electronic warfare missions. The system supports radar warning and electronic support functions and provides emitter data used by mission systems and onboard electronic attack capabilities.
Related: U.S. Navy awards Northrop Grumman $334.4 million for SEWIP Block 3 electronic warfare systems
Modernization efforts
The upgrade effort focuses on the modernization of receiver and processing components within the ALQ-218 architecture, including digital measurement receiver and low-band receiver subsystems. These improvements are intended to enhance wideband RF measurement performance, signal processing capability, and low-frequency detection support in increasingly complex electromagnetic environments.
Low-band receiver upgrades support the detection and tracking of emitters operating in lower frequency ranges commonly used for long-range surveillance and early warning radar systems.
The EA-18G Growler relies on the ALQ-218 system as a core sensing element in its electronic warfare mission set, supporting detection and location of threat emitters prior to engagement by onboard or external electronic attack systems.
Work will be performed in Linthicum, Md. (80%) and Bethpage, N.Y. (20%), and is expected to be completed by February 2030. Fiscal 2026 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the full amount of $61,333,595 are being obligated at the time of award. Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N0001926C0111).
