The U.S. Navy tested low radio frequency spectrum jammer systems in support of a program that seeks to replace the ALQ-99 electronic warfare systems installed on EA-18G Growler aircraft units.

The service branch said Monday it tested jamming technology on prototype pods at the Facility for Antenna and Radar Cross-Section Measurement and the Air Combat Environmental Test and Evaluation Facility in Patuxent River, Md., as part of the Next Generation Jammer-Low Band Demonstration of Existing Technologies effort.

The NGJ-LB team sought consensus on quarantine and test execution guidelines from the contractors, government officials and the Naval Test Wing Atlantic’s chief flight surgeon prior to the tests.

Northrop Grumman and L3Harris Technologies collaborated with the Navy to demonstrate their low band jamming systems.

The Navy is slated to pick a contractor for the development of an operational NGJ-LB Block 1 tactical jamming pod for integration into Growler aircraft units.

The Department of the Air Force has issued a document that defines the involvement of air and space forces in joint, multi-domain operations. The Joint All-Domain Operations or JADO annex, labeled Annex 3-1, will undergo further updates as Curtis E. LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education continues tests and evaluation, the U.S. Air Force said Monday.

“Publishing JADO doctrine is a first step in changing how we think and conduct operations with the reemergence of great power competition," said Maj. Gen. Brad Sullivan, who commands LeMay Center.

The center last year received the task to develop a wargame that would contribute to the JADO annex's creation. The initial Chennault Series wargame took place in December.

“With the Chennault Series, we were able to leverage expertise resident in LeMay (Center), pull students in from across Air University resident programs and include subject matter experts from around the DAF,” the commander said.

The center seeks airman feedback on the annex for the document's further improvement.

The U.S. Air Force (USAF) plans to reconfigure its Lockheed Martin-built F-22 Raptor fighter jets to support combat functionalities over the next few years, National Defense Magazine reported Monday.

Gen. James Holmes, commander of the Air Combat Command, told attendees at a recent Air Force Association teleconference that the service branch is looking into repurposing its F-22 squadron initially built to support training operations.

Holmes said the option to reconfigure the F-22s may help the service optimize its spending for aircraft while expanding its combat capacity. However, he noted that a shortage of engines for the F-22 aircraft may result in challenges for the planned modification.

“They're already combat capable even without bringing them up to the higher standard. I’d certainly pick one of those over some of our legacy airplanes, if I had to go fight," he said. "The primary problem [with the aircraft] is having enough engines to meet our requirements," Holmes added. 

Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane (NSWC Crane) Division has partnered with Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic (NIWC Atlantic) to search for new technologies in support of a future exercise. The Naval Integration in Contested Environments Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (NICE ANTX) will require technologies that allow troops to perform integrated missions, Naval Sea Systems Command said Monday.

The U.S. Navy is engaging with entities from industry, academia and government to identify and obtain the sought technologies. The effort also offers opportunities for participants to work alongside industry leaders. NIWC Atlantic announced a solicitation for the effort via a SAM notice.

“Participants will receive invaluable and immediate feedback on their tech directly from warfighters who may use it in the field," said Sondra Laughlin, assessments lead for ANTX at NSWC Crane.

Interested parties may submit proposals through July 1. The U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps will commence the exercise on the East Coast in 2021.

Reps. Mike Gallagher (D-Wash.) and Rick Larsen (R-Wis.) have unveiled bipartisan legislation to augment the Department of Defense's (DoD) 5G infrastructure network and systems. The "DoD 5G Act" will push the department's secretary to identify and reduce gaps within the U.S. military's telecommunications systems, the office of Rick Larsen said Thursday.

The bill contains recommendations from DoD's Defense Science Board Quick Task Force on the adoption of 5G technologies such as the implementation of federal standards and independent monitoring of 5G data.

“As the Pentagon develops advanced telecommunications capabilities, it should set a clear standard and expectation across the federal government for security and resiliency, from the supply chain on up," said Gallagher.

Gallagher and Larsen declared their support for the Secure 5G and Beyond Act, a bill that will require President Trump to create a strategy for 5G systems and infrastructure security.