Northrop Grumman secures expanded SEWIP Block 3 order

March 31, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

The US Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman a contract modification for up to nine additional Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block 3 systems.

The latest award brings the total number of SEWIP Block 3 units under contract to as many as 24, underscoring the navy’s continued investment in advanced electronic warfare systems designed to counter increasingly sophisticated missile threats.

Notably, the new batch includes the first shipset intended for installation aboard an aircraft carrier, expanding the system’s operational footprint beyond surface combatants.

SEWIP Block 3 represents the navy’s primary program of record for electronic attack, enabling warships to detect, jam, and disrupt incoming anti-ship missiles before they reach their targets. The system has already been deployed aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG-91), where it was first installed in 2023.

According to company officials, the latest contract modification reflects both the maturity of the system and its growing importance in contested maritime environments.

“Our commitment to innovation means we’re not just delivering systems; we’re redefining naval capabilities,” said Lara Kopf, vice president of land and maritime systems at Northrop Grumman.

“SEWIP Block 3 enhances the adaptability and resilience of the fleet in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.”

Alongside full-scale SEWIP Block 3 production, Northrop Grumman is advancing its scaled onboard electronic attack (SOEA) solution, a more compact variant designed for platforms unable to accommodate the larger system. Developed with reduced size, weight, and power requirements, SOEA aims to extend electronic attack capabilities across a broader range of vessels, offering rapid-response jamming and disruption of incoming threats.

The company is currently under contract with the navy to prototype SOEA. As electronic warfare becomes an increasingly critical component of naval operations, the continued expansion of the SEWIP family highlights the navy’s focus on layered defense and preemptive threat neutralization at sea, it was concluded.