SAN DIEGO, May 30, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- A team led by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been selected by the U.S. Navy to improve tactical systems interoperability, an essential element in the communications networks of military weapon systems.
Northrop Grumman estimates that the command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) Systems Interoperability contract has an initial value of more than $6 million to its Information Technology (IT) sector and has a potential value of more than $75 million, if all options are exercised. The five-year program will support the Navy Center for Tactical Systems Interoperability, San Diego, Calif., and was awarded by the Navy's Fleet Industrial Supply Center in San Diego.
"Through this contract vehicle, Northrop Grumman IT will continue to provide innovative solutions to tactical systems interoperability challenges facing the U.S. Navy, joint and allied forces," said Mike Twyman, vice president, Communications and Information Systems Division. "We are a world leader in interoperability engineering and have more than 25 years of experience in improving interoperability for the Navy."
Northrop Grumman IT will support certification of tactical data link systems, develop and perform configuration management of message standards, design Joint Tactical Data Information Systems networks and support tactical communications for fleet operations. Under the contract, the company will provide national expert support for interoperability issues to the Chief of Naval Operations.
In addition to these services, Northrop Grumman IT enhances test systems and associated networking devices that enable the establishment of large distributed networks for testing and certification purposes. The company developed the Multi-Unit Link Test and Training Tool, the only government-certified test system for data links, which is the test and certification tool used by the Navy, the Joint Interoperability Test Command and several allied nations for tactical data system interoperability.
Members of the Northrop Grumman IT team include Stasys Limited, Farnham, United Kingdom; ViaSat, Carlsbad, Calif.; Galaxy Scientific, Egg Harbor Township, N.J.; PESystems, Fairfax, Va.; SEMA, Paris, France; Datamat S.p.A., Rome, Italy; Gray Hawk Systems Inc., Alexandria, Va. and Anteon, Fairfax, Va. Work on the program will be performed in San Diego and Point Loma, Calif., and in Crystal City and Norfolk, Va.
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; 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.