MELBOURNE, Fla., Dec. 17, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) KC-30 Tanker team will generate economic activity exceeding $360 million annually and support more than 7,500 direct and indirect jobs in California if the KC-30 Tanker aircraft is selected by the U.S. Air Force.
"As you know, California has a long history of supporting our armed forces and fostering the defense and aerospace industries that sustain our nation's military," said California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. "If selected for production of the KC-30 Tankers, Northrop Grumman will add the next generation of military technology and aircraft to its already impressive list."
"A KC-30 win will create and support nearly twice the number of jobs in the Golden State than our competitor and generate more than double their economic impact," said Paul Meyer, Northrop Grumman vice president and general manager of the KC-30 Tanker program. "Clearly, production of an aircraft that employs 230 U.S. companies in 49 states is an American-made product for our nation's armed forces."
Northrop Grumman, EADS, GE Aviation and the KC-30 supply chain in California currently support 48,000 jobs statewide and generate a combined economic activity exceeding $20 billion annually.
Northrop Grumman and teammate EADS spend more than $5 billion annually in California, while KC-30 supplier companies inject more than $1.5 billion into the economy each year. Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman employs 28,000 Californians, representing more than $2.5 billion in annual wages.
Northrop Grumman's KC-30 Tanker supply base of more than 40 California companies includes:
Alcoa; Torrance, Calif. Barry Controls; Burbank, Calif. Circle Seal Controls; Corona, Calif. Meggitt Safety Systems, Inc.; Simi Valley, Calif. Pacific Scientific; Duarte, Calif. Teledyne; Los Angeles ACRA Aerospace; Anaheim, Calif. Air Master Production Corp.; Chatsworth, Calif. Ameteck Aerospace; Costa Mesa, Calif. Avibank Manufacturing Inc.; North Hollywood, Calif. Carlton Forge Works; Paramount, Calif. Cast Parts Inc.; City of Industry, Calif. City Wire Cloth; Fontana, Calif. Eaton Aerospace; Los Angeles GKN Aerospace Chemtronics; El Cajon, Calif. Goodrich Aerostructures Group; Chula Vista, Calif. Hartwell Corporation; Los Angeles Hexcel Composities; Dublin, Calif. Hi-temp Insulation; Camarillo, Calif. Honeywell; Torrance, Calif. Independent Forge Company; Orange, Calif. ITT Aerospace Controls division; Valencia, Calif. Jet Manufacturing; Corona, Calif. Kirkhill Rubber Company; Brea, Calif. Kirkhill-AT Company; Valencia, Calif. Morton Manufacturing; Santa Clarita, Calif. Pentacon Aerospace Group; Chatsworth, Calif. PSI Bearings; Simi Valley, Calif. RBC Transport Dynamics; Santa Ana, Calif. Schlosser Forge Company; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Stillman Seal; Carlsbad, Calif. Thermal Structures Inc.; Corona, Calif. Transdigm Adelwiggins Group; Los Angeles Argo Tech; Costa Mesa, Calif. Easterline Mason; Sylmar, Calif. KGS; Arcadia, Calif. Parker Aerospace; Irvine, Calif. Dowkey; Ventura, Calif. Fischer Custom Communications; Torrance, Calif. Phoenix International; Orange, Calif. Synergy Microsystems; San Diego Viasat; Carlsbad, Calif.
The KC-30 Tanker aircraft will be assembled in Mobile, Ala., and the KC-30 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 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.