RESTON, Va., April 10, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The U.S. Missile Defense Agency today dedicated the "Ronald W. Reagan Missile Defense Site" at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) provides the critical battle management and launch control software that is responsible for launching the interceptors and orchestrating the engagement sequence for the current Ground-based Midcourse System.
"This historic event marks the tangible progress our nation has made toward building a missile defense capability that can respond to the increasing global and asymmetric threat, and we congratulate Lt. Gen. Trey Obering and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency for providing the leadership and dedication that has made this continued progress possible," said Jerry Agee, corporate executive for missile defense and president of Northrop Grumman's Mission Systems sector.
"Today's ceremony symbolizes the enormous steps the United States has made since Ronald Reagan's 1983 speech pronouncing the need for a defensive shield to ward off our enemies," Agee continued, "The agency's leadership in spearheading the hugely complex task of building a missile shield to protect our homeland is unprecedented. I salute Lt. Gen. Obering for his leadership and for today's ceremony. It sends a clear sign that we are on the path to realize what President Reagan envisioned, 'truly lasting stability.'"
The Missile Defense Agency announced that the site was dedicated in honor of President Reagan for his commitment to developing technologies that can defend the U.S., its deployed forces, and its allies and friends from the threat of a ballistic missile attack.
As a primary supplier of missile defense technology, Northrop Grumman plays a key role in all phases of our nation's layered missile defense system. Northrop Grumman's domain expertise delivers essential capabilities and technologies that integrate functions across all elements of the ballistic missile defense system. Programs such as the Kinetic Energy Interceptor, Space Tracking and Surveillance System,, Joint National Integration Center, the chemical laser portion of the Airborne Laser, and the battle management capability for the Ground-based Midcourse System are just a few of the contributions the company is making to the nation's missile defense efforts.
"We are proud to continue working with the Missile Defense Agency in its call to secure our homeland, deployed forces and our allies and friends from the threat of ballistic missile attack," Agee said.
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.