Marotta Controls Joined Navy Jammer Program

The company will provide turbine speed control systems for the Next Generation Jammer-Low Band pod program.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Cybersecurity

Isometric editorial illustration of a precision aerospace turbine component, representing industrial hardware for electronic warfare systems. — Marotta Controls has secured two contracts to supply turbine speed control systems for the U.S. Navy’s Next Generation Jammer-Low Band program. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Marotta Controls has secured two contracts to support the U.S. Navy’s Next Generation Jammer-Low Band (NGJ-LB) program, marking the firm’s entry into the airborne electronic warfare market. The hardware will be integrated into prototype pods designed for the EA-18G Growler aircraft.

Why it matters

The NGJ-LB provides critical electronic attack capabilities against low-frequency electromagnetic spectrum threats. This technology replaces the legacy AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System to support integrated operations for both U.S. and Australian EA-18G fleets.

The system utilizes digital processing and electronically scanned array technology to manage turbine speed control. These pods are being developed under a $587.4-million Navy contract awarded in August 2024.

The players

Marotta Controls

A New Jersey-based engineering firm that produces control systems for aerospace and defense platforms.

L3Harris Technologies

A global aerospace and defense technology company that serves as the prime contractor for the NGJ-LB program.

CFD Research

An engineering and research firm that partnered with Marotta Controls for this subcontracted project.

The details

Marotta Controls is supplying Turbine Speed Control Systems for the NGJ-LB, which are critical for regulating the power and output of the jammer pods. The system uses digital processing to manage electronically scanned arrays—antennas that steer radio beams without moving parts—to detect and disrupt enemy electronic signals. This hardware is replacing the aging AN/ALQ-99 system currently used on EA-18G Growler aircraft.

August 2024: The U.S. Navy awarded L3Harris a $587.4-million contract for the NGJ-LB program.
September 21, 2026: Marotta Controls officially secured the subcontracts to provide technology for the program.

The Tech Race

The NGJ-LB program is a central component of the U.S. Navy’s effort to modernize electronic attack capabilities for the EA-18G Growler fleet. By integrating modern digital processing and electronically scanned arrays, the program aims to outperform the legacy AN/ALQ-99 jamming systems.

This development marks a shift in the supply chain for advanced electronic warfare hardware utilized by the U.S. and Australian air forces. While the technology is limited to military aircraft, the integration of these systems is a prerequisite for the operational readiness of the updated Growler fleet.

The takeaway

The successful integration of these systems is vital for maintaining dominance in the low-frequency electromagnetic spectrum. Analysts should watch for the deployment schedule of the eight operational prototype pods to confirm the program's transition from development to fleet utility.