Navy awards $61.3 million Northrop Grumman contract for EA-18G ALQ-218 receiver upgrades

The Navy has awarded a $61,333,595 firm-fixed-price contract to Northrop Grumman Mission Systems in Linthicum, Maryland, for EK upgrades to the EA-18G AN/ALQ-218 receiver system, with work primarily performed in Linthicum (80%) and Bethpage, New York (20%), and scheduled for completion by February 2030. The contract funds 28 B-kit shop-replaceable assemblies supporting the WRA-7 processor unit, 30 B-kit subsystems for the WRA-8 Digital Measurement Receiver, and 77 low-band dedicated receiver subsystems for the WRA-8 architecture, along with associated technical data. The AN/ALQ-218 serves as the EA-18G Growler’s primary electronic warfare receiver suite, enabling passive RF detection, identification, and geolocation to support radar warning and mission planning. Upgrades focus on wideband RF measurement, processing capabilities, and low-frequency detection to improve performance in complex electromagnetic environments. Most work occurs in Linthicum, with some in Bethpage, and completion is expected by February 2030, funded by Fiscal 2026 Navy aircraft procurement.