Raytheon's Next Generation Jammer program reached a key milestone as the program completed the U.S. Navy's preliminary design review.

The Next Generation Jammer, a program contracted by the Navy in 2013, is being developed to replace the ALFQ-99 systems used on the EA-18G airborne electronic attack aircraft. The system provides electronic attack and jamming capabilities for the aircraft, aiming to assist pilots in denying, degrading and disrupting threats from the air.

"Raytheon and the Navy have made system engineering process discipline a top priority from the outset of the NGJ program," Travis Slocumb, vice president of Electronic Warfare Systems at Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems, said in a statement. "The successful completion of PDR is indicative of the strength of our partnership, and we will apply that same focus as we move into the follow-on phases of the program."

The system is built with agile beam-jamming technologies and modernized electronic systems. Under the contract, Raytheon will integrate the Next Generation Jammer into the EQ-18G attack aircraft.

The Boeing-built EA-18G Growler is a carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, which replaced the U.S. Navy's Northrop Grumman-made EA6B Prowlers. Boeing's Growlers are fitted to perform escort jamming in addition to traditional standoff jamming missions, which includes radar jamming and deception. Growlers are designed to accompany F/A-18s during attack missions.

The Navy expects the Next Generation Jammer to reach operational status for the Growlers by 2021.