HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Aug. 8, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) will highlight its integrated missile defense capabilities and command post technologies next week at the Tenth Annual Space and Missile Defense Conference and Exhibition.
The conference will be held from August 13 - 16 at the Von Braun Center and is sponsored by the National Defense Industrial Association - Tennessee Valley Chapter, the Army Space and Missile Defense Association, and the Air Defense Artillery Association - Huntsville Chapter. Northrop Grumman will exhibit at booth number 700.
Featured displays by Northrop Grumman include full-scale models of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Kinetic Energy Interceptors (KEI) program and the U.S. Army's Command Post Platform (CPP) Light, located in front of the South Hall entrance.
The KEI display will include the 39-foot interceptor model, command-and-control trailer known as the "Pathfinder" vehicle, and the mobile dual-launcher. Northrop Grumman is responsible for developing and testing the KEI system, capable of intercepting enemy missiles in the boost, ascent and midcourse phases of flight. The program has met every milestone to date and is on track for its first booster test flight in 2008.
Adjacent to the KEI will be the CPP Light system model, featuring a M1152 Humvee carrying three transit cases and two radio racks. Northrop Grumman is building the CPP Light system, which will give soldiers the mobility required for full-spectrum operations coupled with the added protection and expediency provided by operating out of fixed facilities.
At the booth, Northrop Grumman will showcase key missile defense programs and illustrate its integration expertise via several futuristic missile defense battle scenarios played out on a touch screen display. Key programs featured include the Space Tracking and Surveillance System, a low-earth orbiting surveillance system developed by Northrop Grumman that will detect, track, and discriminate ballistic missiles throughout their flight trajectories; the Missile Defense Integration and Operations Center (formerly known as the Joint National Integration Center) where the company is the prime contractor working with MDA to develop system-level solutions to missile defense integration; the Airborne Laser program where the company provides the high-powered chemical laser portion for this program; and the fire control and launch control software capability for the current Ground-based Midcourse Defense program.
Jerry Agee, president of Northrop Grumman's Mission Systems sector, will be the featured speaker for the session titled, "Industry Perspective of Space and Missile Defense" on Thursday, August 16 at 8:35 a.m. in the Concert Hall.
Serving as chairperson for this year's conference is Kelley G. Zelickson, vice president and general manager of Tactical Systems Division, a business unit in the company's Missions Systems sector.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $30 billion global defense and technology company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide.