HERNDON, Va., Oct. 15, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) provided the ground command and control software for a recent successful flight test of The Boeing Company's booster for the ground-based Midcourse Defense Segment (GMDS) program, formerly the National Missile Defense program. The launch took place late this summer from Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
This was the first flight test of Boeing's commercial-off-the-shelf booster and the Northrop Grumman-developed software that controls the booster launch. The test successfully demonstrated the capabilities of both the booster and the ground launch system.
GMDS is designed to protect the United States against attack by ICBM's. As the GMDS prime contractor, Boeing selected Northrop Grumman's software to plan the intercept trajectory, command the booster and monitor its status. The software communicates with the booster during prelaunch checkout until the time it commands the booster to launch.
"We are pleased with our software's performance and its contribution to a successful flight test," said Christine Reynolds, vice president, C3I Systems, Northrop Grumman Information Technology (IT). "This flight test was a significant step towards the development of a missile defense system that will protect the United States. Northrop Grumman will continue to apply our command and control technologies to support this very important program."
In addition to the command and control development work, Northrop Grumman provides GMDS systems engineering and simulation development support. This end-to-end system simulation is used to evaluate GMDS performance under potential attack scenarios.
Work on the program is performed in Anaheim and San Pedro, Calif.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Crystal City, Va.; and Huntsville, Ala.
Northrop Grumman Information Technology is a premier provider of advanced IT solutions, engineering and business services for government and commercial clients. Headquartered in Herndon, the company's expertise spans such areas as information systems integration; command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR); enterprise hardware and software solutions; training and simulation; base and range support; signals intelligence; space systems; health informatics; and specialized scientific, engineering and technical services.
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