by C. Zachary Hofer, Electronic Systems Analyst, Forecast International.
Production of the airborne tactical jammer is expected to end in 2018, with a final 34 units produced from 2017 through 2018. The ALQ-99 will be superseded by the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ), will start to enter service with the U.S. military in 2020.
However, even with production ending, as long as the ALQ-99 remains in use, it will receive O&M support. Those nations that operate the ALQ-99 consider it a valuable EW tool, and will provide enough funding to keep the extant systems relevant and fully functional. This will result in sustained funding through the system’s remaining service life.
O&M funding from U.S. and Australian armed forces is expected to last at least through the mid- to late 2020s, and to total nearly $558 million for the period from 2017 through 2026.
Forecast International’s Electronic Systems Market Intelligence Services provides full reports on the ALQ-99 and the NGJ. The Platinum Forecast System adds deeper, hourly-updated access to funding and production forecasts, as well as the system level reports. An updated report on the ALQ-99 program was released in the March Airborne Electronics Forecast supplement.