Photo Release -- Turkish F-35 Supplier to Northrop Grumman Delivers First Structural Assemblies

Delivery Marks Key Production Milestone for Turkish Aerospace Industries

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., March 18, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Turkish Aerospace
Industries, Inc. (TAI), a major international supplier to Northrop Grumman
Corporation (NYSE:NOC) on the F-35 Lightning II aircraft program, has produced
and delivered its first structural assemblies for the jet. 

A photo accompanying this release is available at
http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/ 

The metallic assemblies, which contain more than 100 parts each, represent the
next major step forward in TAI's evolving role as a second source supplier of
complete F-35 center fuselages. The company delivered its first F-35 composite
parts in late 2008. 

The assemblies from TAI will be used in center fuselages for F-35 conventional
takeoff and landing (CTOL) variants. Northrop Grumman, a principal member of
the Lockheed Martin-led F-35 industry team, is currently assembling those CTOL
center fuselages in Palmdale, Calif., as part of the second phase of F-35 low
rate initial production. 

"We are very encouraged by TAI's steady progress in maturing the production and
assembly processes that will be required to eventually produce 400 center
fuselages for the program," said Mark Tucker, vice president of tactical
systems and F-35 program manager for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems
sector. 

TAI is scheduled to produce this metallic structural assembly for all CTOL
center fuselages currently planned for the F-35 program, added Tucker. All of
the assemblies will be produced in TAI's manufacturing facility in Ankara,
Turkey. Northrop Grumman previously produced the assembly in Palmdale. 

Northrop Grumman is responsible for the design and production of center
fuselages for all three variants of F-35 aircraft: CTOL; short take-off,
vertical landing; and carrier-compatible. The F-35 Lightning II program expects
to build more than 3,100 aircraft. 

As a member of the F-35 global industry team, Northrop Grumman is central to
the development, production and support of the F-35 Lightning II. The company
designed and produces the aircraft's center fuselage, radar and other key
avionics including electro-optical and communications subsystems; develops
mission systems and mission-planning software; leads the team's development of
pilot and maintenance training system courseware; and manages the team's use,
support and maintenance of low-observable technologies. 

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000
employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace,
electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to
government and commercial customers worldwide. 

CONTACT:  Brooks McKinney, APR
          Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems
          (310) 331-6610
          (310) 864-3785 cell
          brooks.mckinney@ngc.com

          Ken Beedle (London)
          Northrop Grumman Corporation 
          +44 207 747 1910
          +44 7787 174092 (cell)
          Ken.beedle@euro.ngc.com