Next Generation Jammer: The Pod that Protects Pilots

Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) pod in production

One of many Flight Test Mission Control Rooms at NAVAIR’s Atlantic Test Range (ATR) that I used during NGJ-MB flight testing

A zoomed in view showing the same EA-18G Growler data displays that I used during NGJ-MB flight testing

A photo showing the same “Hush House” facility we used to calibrate the installed engines prior to flight testing

EA-18G Growler equipped with NGJ-MB pods (the middle of three stores mounted under each wing)

Our 8%-scale F/A-18E/F and EA-18G wind tunnel model installed at NASA Ames

Outside view of the NASA Ames Unitary Plan 11-by 11-foot Transonic Wind Tunnel

For the past seven years, I have supported the design and testing of the Next Generation Jammer Mid-band (NGJ-MB) pods on the EA-18G Growler as part of a team of the US Navy, Raytheon, and Boeing. The NGJ-MB will provide the Naval fleet with the next generation of enhanced electronic attack capabilities, for example suppressing modern enemy surface-to-air missile defenses.

I am humbled to be part of such an amazing team of engineers that developed the pre-flight aerodynamic (lift and drag) database of these pods when installed on the aircraft. This wind tunnel database cut down on the number of flight tests needed, saving costs for the NGJ-MB Program.

My role on the team included scoping wind tunnel test requirements, success criteria, and generating test matrices alongside Boeing. I supported testing as a data acquisition engineer at the NASA Ames Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel 11-by 11-foot Transonic Test Section. NASA Ames is the gold standard for producing wind-tunnel based lift and drag measurements on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler platforms. My thanks goes out to the Ames team for accommodating all our data requirements!  

I created a wind tunnel test data reduction tool using MATLAB and used it to post-process test data. The tool not only helped me create components of our aerodynamic model of the pod, but also allowed me to double-check contractor data reduction methods. This in-house organic capability did not exist before, and now it will allow our Flight Vehicle Performance Branch to reduce wind tunnel data for the F/A-18 family of aircraft without the need for contractor data reduction support. Therefore, it will reduce contractor support costs for the Navy.

I also led a team of flight test engineers from VX-23 (Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23) along with aircraft performance and propulsion engineers from Boeing and my division to develop flight test requirements needed to verify the preflight aerodynamic model of the NGJ-MB pods. I also developed a flight test data reduction tool using MATLAB. My tool is providing a crucial capability to the Navy that did not exist before in the F/A-18 and EA-18G community. It is allowing us to verify the preflight model and determine if the EA-18G aircraft with NGJ-MB pods installed can meet performance requirements (e.g., aircraft range and endurance) defined in its Specification (i.e., a list of success criteria for the pod design to meet).