BALTIMORE, Sept. 10, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has assigned airborne surveillance systems executive William R. Adams to lead the company's Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) program team in the competition for the next phase of development of the U.S. Army's next-generation airborne multi-intelligence collection system.
A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://media.primezone.com/noc/
Mr. Adams retains his current title of vice president, Airborne Surveillance Systems, at the company's Electronic Systems sector, where he has spearheaded the development and production of the radar sensors for Boeing's Airborne Warning and Control System, the world's premier long-range surveillance aircraft, and the 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control system. For the more recent 737 program, he has taken responsibility for developing and introducing an entirely new product, the Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array radar, which provides surface-maritime as well as air-to-air surveillance capability.
As corporate lead on the Northrop Grumman ACS team, which draws on the domain expertise of key industry partners and four sectors of the corporation, Mr. Adams brings 25 years of hands-on airborne surveillance experience that spans systems development, manufacturing operations and program management. For the last 10 years, he has played a critical role in developing and implementing airborne surveillance strategic planning, marketing initiatives and program management leadership.
"I look forward to continuing the outstanding work accomplished to date by the Northrop Grumman ACS team in developing an airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) system that will help ensure decisive ground engagements by operating as a tactical watchdog for the Army's Objective Force," said Mr. Adams. "We are honored to continue our partnership with the Army, which builds on 50 years of domain knowledge in tactical airborne ISR."
ACS is intended to replace the Army's Guardrail and Airborne Reconnaissance - Low systems, both heritage Northrop Grumman surveillance aircraft. It will achieve a quantum leap by combining signals intelligence (SIGINT), imagery intelligence, and other capabilities with a flexible ground station to deliver real-time, targeting-quality information to battlefield commanders.
The Northrop Grumman-led ACS team recently completed work on a $33 million, 15-month contract for the Army's Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, and Sensors, Fort Monmouth, N.J., for technology demonstration and risk reduction efforts. Northrop Grumman was one of two contractors selected in 2002 to continue development of the ACS system as a result of a competitive Component Advanced Development phase.
The U.S. Navy has recently announced that it will join the Army's ACS effort with a view to replacing the EP-3, its land-based SIGINT reconnaissance aircraft. Mr. Adams noted that "this program dovetails well with the Navy's need to replace the aging EP-3 by capitalizing on multi-service program cost advantages, economies of scale and early rapid fielding without extensive design, development or duplicative testing."
Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector, headquartered in Baltimore, Md., is a world leader in the design, development, and manufacture of defense and commercial electronics systems.
