BALTIMORE, Oct. 21, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Electronic Systems sector has announced the addition of L-3 Communications (NYSE:LLL) as a key supplier on Northrop Grumman's Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) technology development program.
The ACS is the U.S. Army's next-generation, multi-intelligence airborne collection system intended to replace the existing Aerial Reconnaissance Low (ARL) and Guardrail systems. The Northrop Grumman-led ACS team is currently performing on a $35 million, 15-month Component Advanced Technology Development contract with the Army's Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors at Fort Monmouth, N.J., for technology demonstration and risk reduction efforts associated with critical system elements.
L-3 Communications Systems-West, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, will provide the Northrop Grumman ACS program with both the line-of-sight and satellite communication data links to help ensure that critical information is rapidly disseminated to those who need it at all levels of command. In this role, L-3 Communications will be responsible for ACS platform compliance with the Department of Defense Common Data Link.
"Our L-3 enhanced networking capability will bring real-time radar images, electro-optical/infrared, moving target indicator/synthetic aperture radar, video and other sensor information from the ACS platform to commanders stationed in worldwide airborne or surface locations," said Curtis Brunson, president of L-3 Communications Systems-West.
Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector is the prime contractor for the company's ACS program, with key involvement from the company's Integrated Systems and Information Technology sectors. TRW Inc.'s Electromagnetic Systems Laboratory in Sunnyvale, Calif., is the team's lead for ACS signals intelligence subsystem development and integration.
"L-3 Communications is a recognized world leader when it comes to military communications systems for intelligence collection, imagery processing and satellite communications and is the current data link provider for the Guardrail and ARL programs," noted Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Systems Development and Technology Division. "We look forward to utilizing the considerable technological resources of L-3 as we focus on providing the Army with the best value Aerial Common Sensor system for the future."
Headquartered in New York, L-3 Communications is a leading merchant supplier of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) products, secure communications systems and products, avionics and ocean products, training products, microwave components and telemetry, instrumentation and space and wireless products. Its customers include the Department of Defense, selected U.S. government intelligence agencies, aerospace prime contractors and commercial telecommunications and wireless customers.
Headquartered in Baltimore, Md., Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems is a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of defense electronics systems including airborne radar systems, navigation systems, electronic warfare systems, precision weapons, airspace management systems, air defense systems, communications systems, space systems, marine systems, oceanic and naval systems, logistics systems, and automation and information systems.
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