BALTIMORE, Md./BERLIN, Germany, June 7, 2000 (PRIMEZONE) -- DaimlerChrysler Aerospace GmbH (Dasa, Munich) and Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Electronic Sensors and Systems Sector (ES³) today announced the intention to collaborate on a weather and navigation radar for the Airbus A400M European transport aircraft program.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed by both companies regarding the definition and expansion of business arrangements for the production and support of the Northrop Grumman AN/APN-241E weather and navigation radar for the A400M aircraft program. The companies are currently finalizing a Cooperation Agreement leading to the co-production and licensing of the AN/APN-241E radar.
The radar is in service with more than 200 C-130H and J configuration aircraft in various countries and is especially suited for aerial delivery operations and all-weather formation flying. Seven European nations have indicated a long-term requirement for upwards of 288 military transport aircraft as specified in the Future Large Aircraft program.
In April 2000, Northrop Grumman and Dasa signed an MOU to jointly evaluate business alliances across several key technology areas. The alliances, once established, will be continued by the future European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) as soon as the merger of Dasa, Aerospatiale Matra and CASA has been completed.
"This planned cooperation brings together two of the world's foremost suppliers of military radar systems. We will provide a reliable, combat-proven navigation and weather radar designed to meet the most demanding requirements of air transport operations," said Wallace J. Hoff, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems Division.
Johann Heitzmann, head of the Airborne Systems operation within the Division Defence and Civil Systems unit of Dasa and a member of the board of Dornier GmbH, said this agreement confirms that trans-Atlantic relations within the aerospace industry are not one-sided and emphasized that "both sides benefit from the close relations."
Dasa is one of the leading radar companies in Europe and a partner in all relevant European radar programs in the military sector.
Among the key features of the coherent AN/APN-241E radar are high-resolution, ground-mapping modes that enable very precise navigational fixes and aerial cargo drops. The AN/APN-241E also provides the capability to detect windshear in all weather conditions, which meets the critical safety needs of worldwide combat transport operations. The AN/APN-241E also provides a situational awareness capability for all-weather formation flying.
In operation on C-130H aircraft and the baseline for the new C-130J, the AN/APN-241 is the only radar system in production that has been certified by the U.S. Air Force for its All Weather Aerial Delivery System mission.
Northrop Grumman Corporation, headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif., is a world-class, high technology company providing innovative solutions in systems integration, defense electronics and information technology for its U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers, as a prime contractor, principal subcontractor, team member or preferred supplier. The company had revenues of $9 billion in 1999 and has a workforce of approximately 45,000 employees.
The company's Electronic Sensors and Systems Sector, headquartered in Baltimore, Md., is a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of defense electronics and systems, precision weapons, airspace management systems, space systems, marine systems, and automation and information systems.
DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, based in Munich, is Germany's leading aerospace corporation. Dasa is a leading partner in European aerospace programs like Airbus, Eurofighter and Ariane. It had sales of $9.2 billion in 1999 and has a workforce of 46,000.
Dasa's Defence and Civil Systems business unit is involved in the fields of defence electronics, guided missiles and telecommunications and has developed, among other things, the radar systems for Tornado and Eurofighter.
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