MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 16, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been selected to provide a new computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system for the London Ambulance Service to handle emergency calls and ambulance movements. Northrop Grumman will design, develop and implement the new system, which will be introduced in 2010. It will improve the effectiveness of the dispatch process while allowing for future growth and expanded capabilities.
The system will be fully operational to support the London Ambulance Service during the 2012 London Olympics.
"Our CAD system will consolidate emergency response command and control actions and help the London Ambulance Service bring resources to the scenes of emergency more rapidly and efficiently," said John Hopkins, director of UK operations for Northrop Grumman's Information Technology sector. "This builds on our strong systems integration expertise and proven record of implementing large-scale CAD systems."
The new CAD system will be put into operation using Northrop Grumman's CommandPoint(tm) public safety system application to provide London Ambulance Service with a proven, flexible solution which will be fully integrated with existing systems.
The London Ambulance Service is the largest emergency ambulance service in the world to provide healthcare that is free at the point of delivery. Its principal functions are the provision of an Accident and Emergency service to respond to 999 calls, the UK's emergency call number, and the Patient Transport Service, which performs an important role in taking patients to and from hospital appointments. It handles nearly 1.4 million emergency 999 calls a year.
Northrop Grumman is a leading provider of advanced technology solutions to the first responder community and to public safety agencies. CommandPoint(tm) is the company's latest evolution in public safety systems application. The Windows-based CommandPoint application suite combines the best technological standards with the five decades of experience.
Northrop Grumman has implemented large-scale computer-aided dispatch systems in seven out of the ten largest cities in the U.S., including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. In 2007 the company completed the installation of a new computer-aided dispatch system for improved emergency response for the City of Los Angeles.
The company provided the core systems integration for the Airwave Service, the secure digital radio network dedicated for the use of the UK's emergency and public safety services and is delivering New York City's public safety wireless broadband network.
Northrop Grumman in the UK operates from primary locations at Chester, Coventry, Fareham, New Malden, Peterborough, RAF Waddington and Solihull, providing avionics, communications, electronic warfare systems, marine navigation systems, robotics, C4ISR solutions and mission planning, IT systems and software development.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a 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.