The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) a $95 million contract for low-rate initial production of the Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic Warfare (JCREW) Increment 1 Block 1 (I1B1).

The contract, awarded by the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), includes options which, if exercised, would bring the total value to $213 million. Work is expected to be completed by January 2017.

JCREW systems are software-programmable jammers that provide protection from device-triggered improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Northrop Grumman developed mounted, dismounted and fixed-site variants to protect vehicles, warfighters, and permanent structures for the Navy and the U.S. Air Force.

“Prevailing where other companies in the industry faltered, our JCREW team proved this crucial capability – so urgently needed in the field to protect our warfighters against current and emerging threats – could be achieved. Now developed and validated, we couldn't be more elated and gratified JCREW will be deployed next year,” said Jeannie Hilger, Vice President and General Manager, Communications Division, Northrop Grumman Information Systems.

NAVSEA notified Northrop Grumman in May that the JCREW I1B1 system had completed initial operational test and evaluation. It previously completed developmental testing, a functional configuration audit and system verification review, resulting in the Milestone C decision to proceed to production.

NAVSEA awarded Northrop Grumman the JCREW I1B1 development contract in December 2009 and exercised the contract option in January 2013 to complete development of JCREW I1B1.

Furthermore, Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a $91.7 million engineering, manufacturing and development (EMD) contract from the U.S. Navy to further mature system designs for the AN/SLQ-32(V)7 (SEWIP B3) electronic warfare system. Under the contract, Northrop Grumman will finalize integration modeling and test plans, and produce two prototype models for laboratory and field testing.

The contract award follows the successful completion of the preliminary design review (PDR) for the electronic warfare system.

SEWIP B3 will be integrated with other sensors and combat management systems to create the AN/SLQ-32(V)7 Electronic Warfare attack system. This generational leap in capability is the result of an incremental series of upgrades which adds new technologies and capabilities for early detection, signal analysis, threat warning and protection from anti-ship missiles. The system enables Navy warships to counter threats non-kinetically.