ASIAN AEROSPACE 2002, SINGAPORE, Feb. 25, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a $61 million contract by The Boeing Company to supply four Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP) kits for the French Air Force's E-3F Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) fleet.
As a member of the Boeing-led AWACS RSIP team, Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector will provide most of the RSIP hardware, which will then be installed and tested by other members of the team.
"RSIP represents the most significant upgrade to the French E-3 fleet since its deployment in the early 1990s," said William R. Adams, vice president of Airborne Surveillance Systems at Northrop Grumman. "RSIP will provide the necessary edge the French Air Force will need in future conflicts and increase interoperability with the U.S. Air Force, NATO and United Kingdom AWACS fleets."
The RSIP upgrade enhances the operational capability of the E-3 radar against the growing threat from smaller targets, cruise missiles and electronic countermeasures, while retaining all of the existing radar system's capabilities. It will also improve the French Air Force's AWACS man-machine interface and operational maintainability.
Battle-proven by NATO forces during the Kosovo conflict, RSIP-modified E-3s spotted hostile aircraft and directed allied fighters in numerous successful engagements.
The AWACS AN/APY-1/-2 surveillance radar system, designed and built by Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, provides the E-3 aircraft's look-down capability. AWACS is designed to detect and track both enemy and friendly aircraft throughout a large volume of airspace. The radar provides full long-range surveillance of high- and low-flying aircraft in all weather conditions and over all types of terrain.
Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, headquartered in Baltimore, Md., 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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