CRANE, Ind. — General Dynamics Mission Systems has received a $184.25 million U.S. Navy contract to manufacture Next Generation Electronic Attack Units (NGEAUs) for the EA-18G Growler. The contract also includes sustainment support for the NGEAU and future sustainment support for the aircraft’s Advanced Capability Mission Computer.
The firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract was awarded on a sole-source basis under 10 U.S. Code 3204(a)(1) because only one responsible source could meet the requirements. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity. Work will be performed in Bloomington, Minnesota, and is expected to continue through September 2032. The contract number is N0016426DWS86.
About $40.06 million in funding was obligated at the time of the award. This includes $29.69 million from fiscal 2026 Aircraft Procurement, Navy funds and $10.37 million from fiscal 2025 Aircraft Procurement, Navy funds. The public award announcement does not specify the delivery quantities or the full contract ceiling.
NGEAU Supports Growler Block II
The NGEAU is a major part of the Growler Block II modernization program. The system is designed to process, identify and counter increasingly complex radar and electromagnetic threats.
A key capability is Reactive Electronic Attack Measures (REAM), which uses machine-learning-enabled processing to support rapid responses against adaptive and unfamiliar emitters in dense electromagnetic environments.
The new hardware and processors are intended to expand frequency coverage, increase electronic-attack bandwidth and enable autonomous processing and response to unknown signals. The system also addresses diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages affecting the previous Electronic Attack Unit.
Growler Block II uses a more modular, open architecture based on Open Mission Systems, along with Multi-Level Security and Multi-Tier Resource Management.
Integration With Other Growler Upgrades
The NGEAU and REAM form the focus of Phase 1 of Growler Block II. The modernization is also being developed alongside other capabilities, including the Next Generation Jammer–Low Band (NGJ-LB) and Mid-Band pods.
A later Block II effort, known as Phase 2 or Beowulf, is planned to add further sensor enhancements.
The EA-18G Growler is a specialized variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet and serves as the Navy’s carrier-based airborne electronic attack aircraft. Production of new Growlers has ended, making sustainment and modernization important for maintaining the existing fleet into the 2040s.
The new General Dynamics award enables full-rate production of NGEAU units and provides sustainment support as the Navy continues upgrading the Growler’s electronic warfare capabilities.
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