RESTON, Va., April 10, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Defense Travel System (DTS), designed and developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), processed more than 700,000 documents for U.S. Department of Defense travelers during the first three months of 2006. This record-setting usage includes travel authorizations and vouchers.
The system also recorded the highest number of Defense Department users-41,000-logged on during a single day on Monday, March 27.
"This success reflects the dedicated efforts of the government and industry team that is designing, enhancing and fielding DTS and training users worldwide - literally from Yuma, Arizona, to Yokosuka, Japan," said Rich Fabbre, DTS program manager at Northrop Grumman's Mission Systems sector. "These numbers represent more than a two-fold increase in volume from a year ago; at these levels, that's very significant."
DTS is a Web-based, secure, end-to-end system that automates authorizations, reservations, voucher processing, payment and archiving for Defense Department travel transactions. It replaces manual travel administration with automated solutions, reducing travel costs, preventing waste and abuse, simplifying travel management and improving customer service.
Using DTS, travelers have more control over their travel arrangements and can coordinate and arrange travel more easily and quickly. When their trip is complete, they can also more conveniently create a voucher by recalling data already entered for the travel authorization and routing the voucher electronically for approval and payment. Following approval, DTS splits and promptly disburses payments to the traveler's charge card and personal bank account in an average of three days.
Benefiting taxpayers, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service estimates that DTS can save $35 million in processing costs in fiscal year 2006 alone. The government projects that the system will generate $178 million in annual productivity savings and reduce direct costs by $56 million per year when fully deployed.
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 operations in all 50 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.