Northrop Grumman was recently awarded a US Department of Defence (DoD) contract worth US$ 57 million for the integration of second-generation Anti-Jam Tactical Ultra High Frequency Radio for NATO (SATURN) capabilities into Japan’s Northrop Grumman E-2D aircraft.

The contract award from Naval Air Systems Command also includes the procurement of a systems integration laboratory in support of aircraft configuration. The integration work will largely be performed by Northrop Grumman in Melbourne, Florida, West Chester, Ohio and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The upgrade effort is slated for completion in February 2030. Japan purchased five new E-2Ds in July last year. Japan’s E-2D and E-2C fleets provide AEW&C situational awareness of air and naval activity in the Pacific region. The upgrade to SATURN radios for Japan’s E-2D aircraft will provide Japanese forces with an improved radio, resistant to jamming through fast-frequency hopping and digital modulation techniques. It also provides for more resilient, ultra-high frequency voice communications capability for operations in contested environments, while also delivering clearer and better performing voice capability in benign environments.

SATURN radios designed for NATO were to have replaced the older HAVE QUICK II system across all services by October 2024. Over 18,000 HAVE QUICK II radios were slated for replacement.

The upgrade of Japan’s Northrop Grumman E-2D aircraft with second-generation Anti-Jam Tactical Ultra High Frequency Radio for NATO (SATURN) will enhance their communication capability in contested environments and improve interoperability with partner nations. This is especially important as Japan’s E-2D, E-2C fleets provide vital AEW&C situational awareness of air and naval activity in the Indo-Pacific region.

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