MELBOURNE, Fla., Oct. 2, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has selected Melbourne, Fla.-based BRPH Companies, Inc. to lead a multi-firm team to design the KC-30 Production Center in Mobile, Ala. The facility will be used for the final integration of refueling and military-specific systems for the KC-30 Tanker aircraft, Northrop Grumman's offering in the U.S. Air Force's KC-135 replacement competition.
BRPH is leading a team consisting of KBR's Mobile, Ala., office and Thompson Engineering, headquartered in Mobile. The team will design the production facility and provide ongoing technical support throughout construction.
"The BRPH team is very excited about our role in designing and constructing a facility that will be home to a vital aircraft program that supports our men and women in uniform," said Larry Shaw, CEO and chairman of BRPH Companies, Inc. "Our experience in designing facilities of this size and scope and our familiarity with the Gulf Coast region certainly make us the best team for this project and will ensure on-time design, construction support and delivery of the facility."
The KC-30 Production Center, located at Mobile's Brookley Industrial complex, will be directly adjacent to EADS' Final Assembly Line, where the A330 airframe will be assembled and flight-tested prior to integration of refueling and military systems. The KC-30 Tanker program will create 5,000 new direct and indirect jobs throughout Alabama if the KC-30 is selected as the next-generation tanker aircraft.
"This is another significant milestone in our comprehensive plan to move another modern assembly and production facility into the Gulf Coast region," said Paul Meyer, Northrop Grumman's vice president and general manager of the KC-30 Tanker program. "Our Mobile facility will build upon our experience at Moss Point, Miss., Lake Charles, La., and St. Augustine, Fla. This will ensure that we provide the U.S. Air Force a reliable and efficient production line for its next-generation tanker."
The KC-30 Tanker aircraft will be assembled in Mobile, Ala., and the KC-30 tanker team will employ 25,000 American workers at 230 U.S. companies. It will be built by a world-class industrial team led by Northrop Grumman, and includes EADS North America, General Electric Aviation and Sargent Fletcher.
About the KC-30: Northrop Grumman's KC-30 Tanker carries 45,000 more pounds of fuel than a KC-135 or any competitor, providing a significant boost to the U.S. Air Force's global reach. The KC-30 is also designed to refuel Navy and coalition aircraft, and to serve as a multi-role transport aircraft to move passengers, cargo and medical evacuation patients. The KC-30 incorporates defense systems, precision fly-by-wire technology, and the ability to integrate a militarized communications suite and a global support network.
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.