# U.S. Air Force Expands AN/ALQ-257 Jammer Contract

The U.S. Air Force has increased Northrop Grumman's contract for the AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite by $87.4 million, bringing the total contract value to **$1.92 billion**. This contract supports the low-rate initial production of radar-jamming systems designed to enhance the electronic warfare capabilities of F-16 Block 50 fighters. Work is scheduled through 2029, primarily at Northrop Grumman's facility in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. This expansion reflects ongoing investment in modernizing fighter protection systems to maintain air superiority.

- The contract increase signals sustained demand for advanced electronic warfare solutions within the U.S. Air Force, emphasizing the importance of radar jamming technology in current and future combat scenarios.
- Procurement professionals should note the extended production timeline through 2029, indicating long-term opportunities for contractors specializing in electronic warfare systems and related support services.
- Northrop Grumman remains the prime contractor, highlighting the value of established defense contractors in large-scale Air Force modernization programs.
- Agencies and industry stakeholders should consider the strategic implications of this contract expansion on supply chain planning and resource allocation for electronic warfare components.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** September 25, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center
- U.S. Air Force (USAF)
- U.S. Department of War

### Vendors
- Northrop Grumman (prime contractor)

### Key Quotes
> Congress set aside $187 million in last summer’s reconciliation bill to finish development testing and begin initial production.
> — Jim Conroy, Vice President, Northrop Grumman

### Sources
- [F-16 JAMMER DEAL SOARS

The U.S. Air Force expands its electronic warfare edge with an $87.4M boost to Northrop Grumman’s AN/ALQ-257 jammer contract, now valued at over $1.9B to protect F-16 fighters.

https://t.co/bkRifA0bTy](https://x.com/SkyGlass12/status/2103394313212162334) - twitter-defense