Navy extends jammer development work

CLIFTON, N.J., May 11 (UPI)

ITT Exelis' work to mature technology for a next-generation, U.S. Navy electronic warfare jamming system has been extended under a $20 million contract.

With the extension, ITT Exelis will focus on reducing the size and weight of the jamming system while also boosting signal power and improving a subsystem that generates the electronic jamming signals.

"The contract will bring the next-generation jammer one step closer to the battlefield and our warfighters," said Chris Bernhardt, Exelis executive vice president and president of the Electronic Systems division. "This funding allows us to continue our innovative maturation work on digital beam-forming, electronically steerable arrays and other critical technologies that are vital to protecting our forces."

Company work on the Navy program will be performed at its facilities in New Jersey and New York.

The U.S. Navy awarded ITT Exelis the original technology maturation contract in 2010. The next-generation jammer program is expected to enter the tactual technology development phase later this year.