SAN DIEGO, April 2, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today announced that it has selected Terma A/S, of Denmark, to design and develop three-dimensional (3-D) audio algorithms and software for the communications system for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.
Northrop Grumman's Space Technology sector, under contract to Lockheed Martin, is developing software-defined radios that provide numerous advanced communications, navigation and identification (CNI) capabilities for the F-35 JSF. The 3-D audio, to be integrated into the CNI system, provides spatial separation of sounds and signals to improve the pilot's reaction time and allow the pilot to focus on critical alerts and conversations.
"Terma looks forward to the challenge of providing state-of-the art 3-D audio technology to the F-35 JSF and we are very proud to be a part of the international effort," said Borge Witthoft, Terma executive vice president.
"We are pleased to add Terma to the F-35 CNI team," said Frank Flores, F-35 program director at Northrop Grumman Space Technology's Radio Systems division. "Terma's 3-D audio expertise will support the team's objective to bring unprecedented situational awareness to the warfighter."
"It is exciting to see the F-35 program adding more work from a Denmark-based company like Terma," said Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and F-35 program general manager. "We continue our commitment to seek out industrial-participation opportunities with our partner countries, and we strongly believe their contributions build quality and strength into this international enterprise."
Northrop Grumman's integrated CNI avionics feature modular, software-programmable radios that simultaneously carry out numerous tasks such as various voice and data communications and identification functions. The system can also dynamically reconfigure these functionalities to support priorities defined by missions. The F-35 CNI package includes advanced capabilities such as friend-or-foe identification of approaching aircraft, automatic acquisition of fly-to points and secure multiwave, multiband, multimode wireless communications.
The F-35 is a stealthy, supersonic multirole fighter designed to replace a wide range of aging fighter and strike aircraft. Three variants derived from a common design will ensure F-35 meets the performance needs of the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy and allied defense forces worldwide, while staying within strict affordability targets.
Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 in conjunction with its principal partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. In addition to Northrop Grumman Space Technology, the F-35 development team includes Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector, which is responsible for the center fuselage section, and Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector, which provides the fire-control radar and, in partnership with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, the electro-optical distributed aperture system and the electro-optical targeting system.
Northrop Grumman Space Technology's Radio Systems division provides software-defined radios for today's most advanced military aircraft. Northrop Grumman Space Technology is a leader in the development of space systems and payloads for environmental, space science, communications and military applications.