MOBILE, Ala., Oct. 24, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) announced today the selection of Mobile, Ala., as the site of its KC-30 Production Center. The company declared its intentions last month to compete for the U.S. Air Force's next-generation air refueling tanker program.
Northrop Grumman is entering the competition as the prime contractor with EADS North America as their principal sub-contractor. The Northrop Grumman KC-30 is based on the successful Airbus A330 commercial aircraft, currently in production. As the prime contractor, Northrop Grumman will be responsible for contract management, major sub-systems decisions and all military modifications to the A330 advanced refueling airframe supplied by EADS North America. This same airframe has already been selected by Australia and the United Kingdom as the basis for their future tanker programs.
The KC-30 production facility would be located adjacent to the EADS North America facility proposed for Mobile's Brookley Downtown Airport. The two assembly facilities are expected to employ 1,000 high-tech aerospace workers and also contribute to employment for hundreds of sub-contractor and supplier companies around the country. These employment figures would be in addition to the Airbus Engineering Center already planned at the airport.
"The choice of Mobile is a natural," said Marty Dandridge, vice president and KC-30 program director for Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector. "We believe co-location with the airframe-manufacturing facility has strong potential to streamline our manufacturing process as well as extend Northrop Grumman's presence in the Gulf Coast states. Northrop Grumman has a strong commitment to Alabama and to the Gulf Coast. We feel strongly that this decision will continue to build on that relationship."
Northrop Grumman's KC-30 tanker will be tailored to meet Air Force requirements and provide a robust mission-enabling capability. The U.S. content of the KC-30 program will exceed 50 percent, further expanding the U.S industrial base in modern wide-body aircraft.
Northrop Grumman brings a long history of developing advanced aircraft technology, integrating large complex systems and converting commercial aircraft for military missions. The company is a recognized industry leader in systems integration with a proven record as the prime contractor for the B-2 Stealth Bomber, the E-8C Joint STARS advanced ground-surveillance and battle-management system and the E-10A aircraft weapon-systems integration program.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense company headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. Northrop Grumman provides a broad array of technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in systems integration, defense electronics, information technology, advanced aircraft, shipbuilding, and space technology. The company has more than 125,000 employees and operates in all 50 states and 25 countries and serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.