WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., March 14, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been selected by the U.S. Air Force to make available five key products in the Communication, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management Product Catalog I (CNS/ATM I). The selection is part of a three-year multiple award, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract.
The products are four Northrop Grumman navigation systems (LN-251, LN-260, LTN-101, and LN-100) and the company's AN/APX-120(V) Military Mode S Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Transponder system. Product details are available at www.northropgrumman.com.
"The Air Force's listing of Northrop Grumman's leading edge navigation and IFF products in the CNS/ATM I catalog is validation of our commitment to supply products that fulfill the requirements of flight in the global air traffic management regulated airspace," said Jake Volkert, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Navigation Systems Division.
The CNS/ATM I Catalog, formerly called the Global Air Traffic Management catalog, contains a variety of equipment qualified to address required air traffic management upgrades. The International Civil Aviation Organization, Federal Aviation Administration, and other civil aviation authorities plan to implement new air traffic architectures to take advantage of emerging technologies in communication, navigation, and surveillance to improve air traffic management.
For aircraft of the Department of Defense to operate in this new environment, significant modifications to existing aircraft need to be made. The Global Air Traffic Management group of technologies provides the means to achieve the operational capabilities required to enable unrestricted global operations.
The four Northrop Grumman navigation systems selected for the catalog employ non-dithered ring laser gyros and fiber optic gyros (FOGs) to meet customer needs for high accuracy navigation systems for navigation, pointing, and payload stabilization. Non-dithered navigation products don't need to be vibrated to operate, which produces less noise and provides higher accuracy than traditional dithered ring laser gyros.
The LN-260 and the LN-251 apply FOG technology to provide low noise navigation inputs to steady radar pictures, help precisely direct communications antennas, or guide sensors to enable highly accurate positions for ground and aerial targets.
Certified to meet the requirements of the F-16 fighter aircraft and its associated synthetic aperture radar and avionics, the LN-260 will now be accessible to the international F-16 user community and users of a wide variety of military aircraft.
The LN-251 with its digital interface is ideal for incorporation into new aircraft and avionics systems of existing aircraft and is currently operating on the U.S. Army Hunter unmanned aerial vehicle and the U.S. Navy's E-2 Advanced Hawkeye and Multi-Mission Aircraft.
The LN-100 and LTN-101 provide high-accuracy pointing and navigation to aircraft. Over 4,800 LN-100 navigation systems are employed by 70 customers worldwide including the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard for fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, launch vehicles, and unmanned underwater vehicles.
The LTN-101, used in over 5,000 commercial aircraft navigation systems, safely directs commercial airliners and cargo aircraft throughout the world.
Northrop Grumman's Mode S/Mode 4/5 Identification Friend or Foe Transponder, the AN/APX-120(V) Military Mode S IFF Transponder, was selected to address the surveillance requirements of catalog users. It complies with the latest mandates for Mode S and Military IFF modes of operation. A pre-planned technology upgrade of this product will add the latest military secure mode.
Northrop Grumman Navigation Systems Division supplies situational-awareness products for international and domestic defense and commercial markets including navigation and positioning systems and sensors for space and high-value platform products, navigation-grade and tactical-grade inertial systems and identification, friend or foe transponders and interrogators.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense company headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in systems integration, defense electronics, information technology, advanced aircraft, shipbuilding and space technology. With approximately 125,000 employees and operates in all 50 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.