Electronic Warfare

ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System

Also known as
  • AN/ALQ-99
  • ALQ-99 TJS
  • ALQ-99 jamming pod

The ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System is a U.S. external-carriage airborne electronic attack pod family used to jam radar and communications targets for suppression of enemy air defenses. NAVAIR says it entered service in 1971, served on the EA-6B Prowler before transitioning to the EA-18G Growler in 2010, and remains in use alongside Next Generation Jammer pods, including documented VAQ-133 carriage during 2026 Iran War strike operations.

ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System, Tactical jamming pod system, Electronic Warfare
Image source: ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System

Role in Conflicts

2026 Iran War
Electronic Warfare

Specialist reporting identified a VAQ-133 EA-18G Growler launching for Operation Epic Fury with one ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System pod and one AN/ALQ-249 pod, directly linking the legacy pod to U.S. electronic-attack sorties during the 2026 Iran War.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Type
Tactical jamming pod system
Service note
1971-present; legacy system being replaced by Next Generation Jammer pods

Specifications

Primary function
External-carriage airborne electronic attack
Targets
Radar and communications emitters
Service entry
Initial operational capability in 1971
Carrier aircraft
EA-6B Prowler; EA-18G Growler
Representative EA-18G loadout
Three ALQ-99 TJS pods with two AIM-120 missiles, two AGM-88 HARM missiles, and two 480-gallon external fuel tanks
Documented 2026 loadout
One ALQ-99 pod carried with one AN/ALQ-249 pod on a VAQ-133 EA-18G Growler during Operation Epic Fury
Replacement
Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) increments, including Mid-Band and Low Band
Carrier Aircraft

NAVAIR describes the ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System as an external-carriage airborne electronic attack capability that served on the EA-6B Prowler before transitioning to the EA-18G Growler.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
EA-18G Growler, Carrier-capable airborne electronic attack aircraft, Electronic WarfareEA-18G GrowlerCarrier-capable electronic attack aircraft

NAVAIR says the EA-18G Growler carries ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System pods as part of its airborne electronic attack suite, with a representative loadout listing three ALQ-99 TJS pods alongside AIM-120, AGM-88 HARM, and external fuel tanks.

Sources: ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System, EA-18G Growler

Prowler To Growler Transition

NAVAIR states that ALQ-99 TJS was used on the EA-6B Prowler until the system transitioned to the EA-18G Growler, whose first ALQ-99 deployment came in 2010.

Sources: ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System, EA-18G confirmed as the Growler

Replacement Context

Official Navy and DoD sources describe ALQ-99 as the legacy EA-18G tactical jamming pod family that remains in service while Next Generation Jammer increments are fielded. The replacement is incremental rather than a single pod swap: NGJ-MB addresses the mid-band mission set, NGJ-LB addresses lower-frequency threats, and Navy fact-file material describes NGJ as a three-increment Mid-Band, Low Band, and High Band program.

LayerStatusSource-backed context
ALQ-99 TJSLegacy systemNAVAIR records 1971 initial operational capability, EA-6B service before the EA-18G transition, and continued service until all NGJ increments reach full operational capability.
NGJ Mid-BandAN/ALQ-249(V)1 Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band, Carrier-based airborne electronic attack jamming pod system, Electronic WarfareAN/ALQ-249(V)1DoD states NGJ-MB will augment and then replace the fielded-1971 AN/ALQ-99 in the mid-band frequency range for the EA-18G, improving radar and communications jamming performance, reliability, and maintainability.
NGJ Low BandEngineering and manufacturing developmentNAVAIR describes NGJ-LB as the low-frequency increment of the larger NGJ system that will augment and ultimately replace ALQ-99 on the EA-18G Growler.
Timeline

ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System Key Events

  1. Initial operational capability

    NAVAIR says the ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System achieved initial operational capability in 1971.

    Sources: ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System

  2. EA-18G Growler transition begins

    After EA-6B Prowler service, NAVAIR records the ALQ-99 transition to the EA-18G Growler and the Growler's first deployment in 2010.

    Sources: ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System, EA-18G Growler

  3. NGJ-MB enters production and deployment phase

    NAVAIR says the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band increment reached Milestone C in 2021, allowing the program to enter production and deployment as a replacement path for part of the ALQ-99 mission set.

    Sources: Next Generation Jammer

  4. First production NGJ-MB pods delivered

    NAVAIR says the first production Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band pods were delivered to the fleet in July 2023.

    Sources: Next Generation Jammer

  5. NGJ-MB reaches initial operational capability

    NAVAIR reported that the Navy declared NGJ-MB initial operational capability in December 2024, with the system augmenting and ultimately replacing the ALQ-99 on the EA-18G Growler.

    Sources: US Navy declares initial operational capability for the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band system

Media

ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System Videos

ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System Images

ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System, Tactical jamming pod system, Electronic Warfare - view 1
Source: Flickr - Official U.S. Navy Imagery - Sailors wipe down an ALQ 99 jamming pod..jpg
ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System, Tactical jamming pod system, Electronic Warfare - view 2
Source: Red Flag-Alaska 160810-F-YK359-1035.jpg
Related Weapon Systems
AN/ALQ-249(V)1 Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band, Carrier-based airborne electronic attack jamming pod system, Electronic WarfareElectronic WarfareAN/ALQ-249(V)1 Next Generation Jammer Mid-BandCarrier-based airborne electronic attack jamming pod systemThe AN/ALQ-249(V)1 Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band is Raytheon's airborne electronic attack pod for U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Air Force EA-18G Growlers, replacing part of the ALQ-99 mission set with two-pod ship sets built around active electronically scanned arrays and a digital back end. It reached initial operational capability in December 2024 and has documented combat-linked use from VAQ-133 deployments in the 2023 Red Sea Crisis and 2026 Iran War.
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EA-18G Growler, Carrier-capable airborne electronic attack aircraft, Electronic WarfareElectronic WarfareEA-18G GrowlerCarrier-capable airborne electronic attack aircraftThe EA-18G Growler is a Boeing-built electronic attack derivative of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet, fielded to jam, detect, and attack hostile radars, communications, and air-defense networks while retaining missile carriage for suppression missions. U.S. Navy and Australian Growlers provide carrier or land-based electronic warfare support, with early combat deployment in Iraq and Libya in 2010-2011 and later documented use in 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve, Red Sea operations against Houthi forces, and the U.S.-Iran strike context.
Advanced Self Protection Jammer, Electronic warfare jammer, Electronic WarfareElectronic WarfareAdvanced Self Protection JammerElectronic warfare jammerThe Advanced Self Protection Jammer is an Indian DRDO airborne electronic-warfare pod associated with the HAL Tejas self-protection fit. Official Indian releases describe it as protecting the aircraft against acquisition radars, fire-control radars, anti-aircraft artillery, and airborne multirole radars, while later procurement approvals extended related external self-protection jammer pods into Su-30MKI electronic-warfare planning.
Communication EA Surveillance and Reconnaissance (CEASAR) pod, Airborne electronic attack and reconnaissance pod, Electronic WarfareElectronic WarfareCommunication EA Surveillance and Reconnaissance (CEASAR) podAirborne electronic attack and reconnaissance podThe Communication EA Surveillance and Reconnaissance (CEASAR) pod is a Raytheon-built U.S. airborne electronic-attack payload developed for C-12/King Air aircraft to provide beyond-line-of-sight communications jamming for ground forces. It deployed with Task Force CEASAR in Afghanistan, later fed the NERO Gray Eagle UAS adaptation, and appeared in Air National Guard planning for EC-130J Commando Solo Multi-Mission Payload-Heavy aircraft.
EC-130H Compass Call, Airborne electronic attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsEC-130H Compass CallAirborne electronic attack aircraftThe EC-130H Compass Call is the U.S. Air Force's legacy airborne electronic-attack aircraft, a heavily modified C-130H that denies, degrades, and disrupts adversary command-and-control communications, radars, and navigation systems. Its mission crew operates permanently installed electronic-attack equipment for U.S. and coalition air, surface, maritime, and special-operations support, while the EC-130H fleet transitions to the EA-37B Compass Call successor.
BM/KG300G electronic countermeasures system, Airborne ECM pod, Electronic WarfareElectronic WarfareBM/KG300G electronic countermeasures systemAirborne ECM podThe BM/KG300G is a Chinese airborne self-protection jamming pod family for external carriage on combat aircraft, with public sources describing I/J-band radar jamming, automatic countermeasure selection, and integration with radar-warning and dispenser subsystems. The baseline pod is associated with CEIEC/CETC and SWIEE/SIWEE reporting, while 2024 coverage showed a smaller rotary-wing form on a Z-10 and compact pods on an FH-95 UAV.

Sources

ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming SystemPublisher: Naval Air Systems Command | Note: Supports the ALQ-99 legacy pod-family background, 1971 service entry, EA-6B-to-EA-18G transition, airborne electronic attack role, and image provenance for the primary page image. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Northrop Grumman Naval AviationPublisher: Northrop Grumman | Note: Supports Northrop Grumman manufacturer context for the ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System on the EA-18G Growler. | Accessed: 2026-06-27EA-18G GrowlerPublisher: Naval Air Systems Command | Note: Supports the EA-18G Growler's role as the EA-6B replacement and a representative loadout that includes three ALQ-99 tactical jamming pods. | Accessed: 2026-06-27EA-18G confirmed as the GrowlerPublisher: Naval Air Systems Command | Note: Supports the EA-18G Growler transition from the EA-6B Prowler and NAVAIR's statement that EA-18G would host the EA-6B electronic attack suite including ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System pods. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Next Generation JammerPublisher: Naval Air Systems Command | Note: Supports NGJ as the system that will augment and ultimately replace the legacy ALQ-99, plus NGJ-MB Milestone C, July 2023 fleet pod delivery, and the Low Band increment's lower-frequency replacement context. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Next Generation Jammer Mid-BandPublisher: U.S. Navy | Note: Supports NGJ's three-increment family context, NGJ-MB as the mid-band increment, two-pod ship-set configuration, and replacement of the legacy ALQ-99 TJS on EA-18G airborne electronic attack missions. | Accessed: 2026-07-01NGJ Mid-Band MSAR December 2023Publisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Supports the DoD program statement that NGJ Mid-Band will augment and then replace the fielded-1971 AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System in the mid-band frequency range for the EA-18G, with improved radar and communications jamming performance, reliability, and maintainability. | Accessed: 2026-07-01US Navy declares initial operational capability for the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band systemPublisher: Naval Air Systems Command | Note: Supports the December 2024 NGJ-MB initial operational capability decision and NAVAIR's statement that NGJ-MB is part of the larger NGJ system that will augment and ultimately replace the legacy ALQ-99 on EA-18G Growlers. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Navy to boost fleet's electronic attack capability with Next Generation Jammer Low Band contract awardPublisher: Naval Air Systems Command | Note: Supports NGJ-LB as the low-frequency increment of the larger NGJ system that will augment and ultimately replace the legacy ALQ-99 on EA-18G Growlers. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Flickr - Official U.S. Navy Imagery - Sailors wipe down an ALQ 99 jamming pod..jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain U.S. Navy photo provenance for the gallery image showing an ALQ-99 jamming pod. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Red Flag-Alaska 160810-F-YK359-1035.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain U.S. Air Force photo provenance for the gallery image showing an ALQ-99 pod on an EA-18G Growler. | Accessed: 2026-06-27TWZ Iran Missions Split LoadoutPublisher: The War Zone | Note: Directly supports 2026 Iran War conflict use by identifying an ALQ-99 pod on a VAQ-133 EA-18G Growler photographed launching from USS Abraham Lincoln during Operation Epic Fury missions over Iran; also supports legacy/new-pod mixed-loadout context. | Accessed: 2026-07-01