BALTIMORE, April 25, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- The U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors at Fort Monmouth, N.J., has chosen a team led by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) that includes TRW Inc. (NYSE:TRW) to participate in the next phase of the Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) program.
Northrop Grumman was one of two companies chosen for the Component Advanced Development phase, valued at $35 million, which will last 15 months and require technology demonstration and risk reduction efforts associated with critical system elements. This selection is the culmination of a competitive, 18-month concept exploration program phase, which began in May 2000.
The ACS program is the Army's next-generation, multi-intelligence airborne collection system. It will combine signals intelligence (SIGINT) and imagery intelligence collection capabilities with a flexible, robust ground station that delivers critical and time sensitive information to battlefield commanders.
"We look forward to applying the considerable resources of Northrop Grumman as well as our teammates to provide the Army with the best value Aerial Common Sensor system for the future," said Robert P. Iorizzo, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector.
"Our team's solution provides the Army with the ability to carry multiple intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) sensors - including communications and electronic intelligence, synthetic aperture radar with moving target indicator, and electro-optical sensors - and associated processing suites all on a single aircraft. Our solution enables rapid deployment of a complete, combat-ready, organic ISR system that will provide Army commanders with the flexibility of direct tasking and integrated reporting from onboard or remotely located operators," Iorizzo added.
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. The Integrated Systems sector's Airborne Ground Surveillance and Battle Management Systems facility in Melbourne, Fla., is responsible for air platform system integration and integrated logistics support, while the Information Technology sector's Defense Mission Systems facility in Manassas, Va., will perform modeling and simulation activities.
TRW's Electromagnetic Systems Laboratory in Sunnyvale, Calif., is the team's lead for ACS SIGINT subsystem development and integration.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is an $18 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 nuclear and non-nuclear shipbuilding and systems. With nearly 100,000 employees and operations in 44 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.