BALTIMORE, June 22, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the objective of bringing together their technological skills in the field of airborne radar.
Northrop Grumman's Overseas Service Corporation and EADS' Systems & Defence Electronics (S&DE) business unit have signed this MOU to consider the exploitation of their collective technical and business strengths in pursuit of a common radar solution for U.S. transport aircraft. The aim is to enhance the safety of aircraft operation independent from weather and daylight conditions, particularly during landing and taxiing, by establishing an enhanced vision system. The project will be based on Northrop Grumman's APN-241 aerial delivery radar and EADS' HiVision sensor technology.
"We look forward to working closely with EADS to develop a collaborative business activity intended to market and support the EADS HiVision millimeter wave radar sensor," said Bob DuBeau, vice president of Northrop Grumman's Avionics Systems business unit.
The HiVision radar contains a frequency-modulated, continuous wave radar sensor operating in the millimeter wave band. It is a short-range sensor for navigation (landing aid), runway detection and collision warning up to a distance of five kilometers. Under the proposed collaboration, Northrop Grumman will be responsible for adaptation, production and support of the HiVision radar sensor for the U.S. transport aircraft programs.
"The increase in modern traffic, the demand for economic operation and more stringent safety demands require the weather and daylight-independent operation of aircraft," said Johann Heitzmann, head of EADS Airborne Systems. "And this requirement is met by imaging sensor support, which can be offered in a very cost-effective way by bringing together the existing concepts and comprehensive proficiency of our companies in this field."
The activity covered by this latest MOU is a further expansion of the existing cooperation of EADS and Northrop Grumman as displayed in a shared pavilion at Le Bourget. A general MOU signed by the two companies in April 2000 started the evaluation of various activities in the C4ISR sector.
EADS has arisen from the merger of Aerospatiale Matra, Construcciones Aeronauticas S. A. and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG. With revenues of Euro 24.2 billion (2000) and 100,000 employees, EADS is the third largest aerospace company in the world. EADS has valuable capabilities and experiences in the field of enhanced ISR sensor systems, avionics and subsystems design as well as command, control, communications, computers and intelligence.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $15 billion, global aerospace and defense company with its worldwide headquarters in Los Angeles. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in defense and commercial electronics, systems integration, information technology and non-nuclear shipbuilding and systems. With 80,000 employees and operations in 44 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.
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