Navy Secures Advanced EW Training Capabilities with New $165M Contract

By David M. Higgins II, Publisher/Editor on July 19, 2024

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — The U.S. Navy has granted a significant $165 million contract to Phoenix Air Group Inc. for advanced electronic warfare (EW) training services. This initiative, announced on June 28, aims to enhance the training, testing, and evaluation of shipboard personnel and aircraft squadron weapon systems operators through simulated airborne electronic threats.

According to Capt. Greg Sutton, Program Manager of the Adversary and Specialized Aircraft Program Office (PMA-226), this contract is crucial for maintaining electromagnetic spectrum superiority. "Fleet training against airborne electronic attack forces is a priority," Sutton stated. "The CAS EW jet services contract provides an ability to simulate both the threat and overall spectrum density of the current and future high-end fight which is essential to effective aircrew training."

Under the terms of the contract, Phoenix Air Group will deploy 10 contractor-owned and operated aircraft capable of supporting up to 5,000 flight hours per year. These aircraft will be available for a range of training scenarios on both the East and West Coasts, from basic intercept control training at the "schoolhouse" level to large multinational exercises and more focused unit training sessions. Additionally, the contract supports target and banner tow missions for the Navy, as well as other Department of Defense and non-DOD agencies.

Matt Rhodes, PMA-226 CAS EW Integrated Product Team Lead, highlighted the practical benefits of this contracted service. "CAS affordably fills critical and mandatory training requirements, mitigating readiness gaps and capability divestments," Rhodes explained. "It provides fleet air defense training to include evaluation of evolving threats via uniquely modified aircraft configured as required to simulate Fleet Forces Command identified hostile EW near peer threats for air-to-air and air-to-surface training events."

This firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract is set to commence in August 2023 and will continue through August 2029, marking a long-term commitment to upgrading and maintaining U.S. Navy training capabilities in the face of evolving electronic warfare challenges.