CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Sept. 13, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been selected by the U.S. Navy to develop the Shipboard Protection System, intended to enable naval vessels to counter asymmetric terrorist threats while moored to a pier, at anchor or during restricted maneuvering.
Under the terms of the $6 million contract, Northrop Grumman will provide surface combatants, amphibious ships and aircraft carriers with a fully integrated and seamless sensor, analysis and response system. The system will provide constant 360 degree situational-awareness and engagement capability to counter such threats, with no increase in manning.
"The Shipboard Protection System represents an important step forward in our anti-terrorism/force-protection program and lays the foundation for follow-on capabilities," said Rear Adm. William E. Landay, III, program executive officer for Littoral and Mine Warfare, NAVSEA. "It's about adding technology and automation to increase the range, flexibility and time a ship's crew has in which to react to potential threats."
During the first phase of the system development and demonstration effort, to be completed next March, Northrop Grumman will provide an integrated surface- surveillance system and non-lethal weapons and devices. The surface-surveillance system will incorporate electro-optical and infrared sensors, and radar into a common tactical-surveillance system.
"Northrop Grumman has assembled a world-class team of technologically advanced defense companies to provide the Navy with a total systems solution to protect ships and their crews," said John DeMaso, vice president of Northrop Grumman's Naval and Marine Systems Division. "By using a scalable, open-architecture design, the Shipboard Protection System can readily incorporate new technologies and expand to meet the Navy's force-protection needs."
For the first contract phase, Northrop Grumman will act as the system integrator; provide system design, mission-specific hardware, software, and firmware components; and implement performance-based logistics.
Other teammates and their charters include:
-- Ocean Systems Engineering Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.,
which will provide situational awareness and non-lethal
engagement software, user interfaces and concepts of
operation;
-- Science Applications International Corporation, Bloomfield,
Ind., which will manage the system assembly and test, as well
as shipboard installation and logistics; and
-- General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Burlington,
Vt., which will be the lethal engagement systems integrator
and support the weapons-system safety certification.
The next phase of the Shipboard Protection System program, to be implemented in fiscal year 2007, will incorporate swimmer- and diver-detection capabilities, with an unmanned surface-vehicle capability to be added in the future. Additional future plans may include adding non-lethal technologies, providing capability to deal with air threats, and developing predictive-awareness tools.
The Shipboard Protection System program will be managed from Northrop Grumman's Naval and Marine Systems headquarters in Charlottesville, Va., with additional work to be performed at the company's locations in Annapolis, Md., and Ocean Springs, Miss.
Northrop Grumman's Naval and Marine Systems Division is a component of the company's Baltimore-based Electronic Systems sector, a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of defense and commercial electronics and systems including airborne radar, navigation systems, electronic countermeasures, precision weapons, airspace management systems, communications systems, space sensors, marine and naval systems, government systems and logistics services.