Following the recent maiden flight of a 5th-generation Chinese prototype aircraft, the US military is actively discussing options for a response to the event. How to deal with an adversary with aircraft of at least equal capabilities? One of the answers is to hit the weak point of the latest generation aircraft, their electronics.
To do this, the Pentagon is developing a new generation of NGJ (Next Generation Jammer) electromagnetic emitters, which should blind onboard radars, disrupt communications and even infect computers with malicious code. It is assumed that such a weapon will be based on the EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft. Recently, this project has become a top priority for the leadership of the US Army, and in 2009 it was decided to expand the planned purchases of the EA-18G instead of increasing the production of representatives of the 5th generation of the F-22 Raptor. And the other day, Defense Secretary Robert Gates promised to stimulate a five-year plan to develop NGJ, additionally financing the program from funds freed up as a result of the reduction in command personnel.
The NGJ is currently being designed by four development teams from Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, Raytheon and ITT. After the first stages in the US Navy, they intend to select the optimal contractor from these candidates. In total, billions of dollars will be spent on the new "jammer", and ideally it will be a modular, adaptable and customizable platform that can be placed not only on the EA-18G Growler, but also on other aircraft, including the fifth generations - and future ones.
The primary goal of the entire program is a large-scale replacement in the American Navy of the outdated EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft, which have been in operation since 1971. But this is only the beginning. According to a Pentagon spokesman, “Electronic attack systems and the whole concept of electronic warfare have changed radically over the years. Once they were aimed primarily at ground-based air defense systems. But if you create a system that can operate in a wide frequency range and at sufficient power, it can be used in other roles as well.” For example, you can block the detonation of remotely controlled projectiles, bombs and mines.
It is possible to inject malicious code into the enemy's command systems (this was the first time the Israelis carried out such an attack, attacking a potential testing ground for the development of nuclear weapons by Syria). And in this way it is possible to disrupt the work not only of the army itself, but also of production and energy centers.
