PASCAGOULA, Miss., May 13, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) announced today that the U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Ship Systems perfect scores for the work accomplished during the final phase of restoration of the Aegis guided missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67).
Northrop Grumman Ship Systems received the highest marks possible in the specified performance areas of Schedule, Technical, Management and Cost for the performance period from January through April 2002; and, based on the perfect scores, the Navy awarded Northrop Grumman $3.9 million in performance award fee funding.
The USS Cole, which was redelivered ahead of schedule, sailed from Northrop Grumman Ship Systems' Ingalls facility in Pascagoula, Miss., April 19, 2002, and returned to her homeport in Norfolk, Va., April 24, 2002.
"The Navy's performance award is a tribute to the employees of Northrop Grumman Ship Systems and their ability to fulfill each task efficiently and on schedule," said Dr. Philip A. Dur, Northrop Grumman corporate vice president and president of the company's Ship Systems sector. "The USS Cole is a national symbol of the indomitable spirit of the United States Navy. She was repaired with emotion, energy and a deeply felt sense of patriotism by our shipbuilders in Pascagoula."
Following a terrorist attack in Aden, Yemen, in October 2000, the ship underwent an extensive 14-month restoration project. Exactly 18 months later, the ship went to sea April 12 for her first underway period since the attack, fully testing all systems, including propulsion plant, main machinery and auxiliary machinery that required extensive repair or replacement during the restoration period.
Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, headquartered in Pascagoula, Miss., includes facilities in Pascagoula and Gulfport, Miss., as well as New Orleans and Tallulah, La. The sector, which currently employs more than 17,000 shipbuilding professionals, primarily in Mississippi and Louisiana, is one of the nation's leading full service systems companies for the design, engineering, construction and life cycle support of major surface ships for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and international navies, and for commercial vessels of all types.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is an $18 billion, global defense company with its worldwide headquarters in Los Angeles. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in defense and commercial electronics, systems integration, information technology and nuclear and non-nuclear shipbuilding and systems. With nearly 100,000 employees and operations in 44 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.