REDONDO BEACH, Calif., Feb. 26, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has successfully demonstrated electrical performance capabilities of the downlink phased array antenna for the Advanced Extreme High Frequency (EHF) military satellite communications program, reaching a key company development milestone toward providing increased battlefield connectivity and protection for U.S. armed forces.
The tests conducted by the company's Space Technology sector showed that the component design, and the overall phased array subsystem design, will meet the stringent performance requirements specified for the Advanced EHF system. Tests also validated a recently completed facility for the program, proving that fast and accurate assembly and testing of EHF arrays is achievable.
"These new phased array antennas will help deliver unprecedented communications-on-demand capability to our warfighters when they need it and where they need it," said Clayton Kau, Northrop Grumman Space Technology vice president and manager of the Advanced EHF payload program. "Without this critical technology, it would not be possible to provide our military with the dramatic increase in assured connectivity that it needs," he added.
Advanced EHF is the follow-on to the Milstar system, whose capabilities were cited by the Department of Defense as essential to the U.S.-led coalition's success in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Advanced EHF will provide 10 times greater total capacity, and offer channel data rates six times higher than that of Milstar II satellites.
Phased array antennas direct radio frequency beams electronically rather than by moving reflectors mechanically, allowing one array to do the job of many reflectors. These steered, "agile" beams will significantly increase the number of coverage areas that can be connected from one satellite and permit the Advanced EHF system to deliver faster, highly protected communications to military users who are moving rapidly through the battlefield.
The MILSATCOM Joint Program Office, located at the Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contract manager and lead agency for the Advanced EHF program.
Northrop Grumman Space Technology will deliver the Advanced EHF payloads to the system prime contractor, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif. Lockheed Martin is currently under contract to provide the first two Advanced EHF satellites and command control system.
Northrop Grumman Space Technology develops a broad range of systems at the leading edge of space, defense and electronics technology. The sector creates products for U.S. government and commercial customers that contribute significantly to the nation's security and leadership in science and technology.
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