NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (May 26, 2008) – The Air Combat Electronics (ACE) program office (PMA-209) was part of a team that won the Department of Defense’s Value Engineering Award for 2007 in the Special category.
ACE’s Avionics Component Improvement Program team worked with Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division’s Airborne Electronic Attack Division to develop a new modular solid state Band 4 transmitter on the ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System. The ALQ-99 is presently used on the EA-6B Prowler and also slated for use on the new EA-18G Growler.
“I’m very proud of our AvCIP team and their role in keeping the Prowler on the cutting edge of electronic attack,” said Capt. Silvernagel, Air Combat Electronics Program Manager. “This is an example of the kind of teamwork we need across the Navy/Services to get the warfighters what they need, when they need it, at the lowest cost possible.”
The current component had a high failure rate and was difficult and very costly to repair in a timely fashion. When this component did fail, it prevented the Prowler from providing the offensive jamming mission role needed to protect other aircraft carrying out strike or close air support missions.
The Crane Team, using Value Engineering Methodology, identified the problem; analyzed potential alternatives used on other similar technology systems and developed a plan for buying the new component.
After receiving a contract proposal from industry for the new component, the proposal was submitted and selected by the AvCIP team for funding in July 2007. The AvCIP funding was combined with additional funding from the EA-6B Prowler Program Office (PMA-234) and a contract was awarded in September 2007.
This new component is more reliable and repairable and will save the Navy more than $41 million in total life cycle costs (fewer spare parts, increased reliability).
The fiscal 2007 Department of Defense Value Engineering Achievement awards will be presented in June to recognize the recipients’ outstanding achievements through the application of value engineering.
Source: Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)