ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., March 3, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Egyptian air force has accepted delivery of the first of six E-2C Hawkeye 2000 export configuration aircraft upgraded by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC).
The former U.S. Navy fleet aircraft was remanufactured and upgraded by the company's Integrated Systems sector to the Hawkeye 2000 export configuration, which includes a more powerful, commercial off-the-shelf mission computer, and advanced operator workstations.
A second upgraded aircraft for Egypt is scheduled for delivery in early 2004. The upgrade program began in 1999 and is valued at $174 million.
"Egypt has been defending its skies with our Hawkeyes for nearly 20 years," said Phil Teel, Integrated Systems vice president for Airborne Early Warning (AEW) and Electronic Warfare Systems. "Egypt's decision to upgrade its fleet to the Hawkeye 2000 export configuration underscores the value of this airborne early warning and control system. We believe there is a significant market for this solution to the international AEW need."
"This modification effort continues our current record of on-time or ahead of schedule deliveries of new and modified aircraft from our St. Augustine facility," said Tom Williams, vice president and Integrated Product Team leader, Airborne Early Warning Programs. "Our St. Augustine facility was named one of the top 25 plants in the United States by Industry Week magazine, demonstrating our team's continued commitment to product quality and improvement."
In addition to Egypt, Japan is also upgrading its fleet of Hawkeyes to the Hawkeye 2000 export configuration.
Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., is a premier aerospace and defense systems integration enterprise with the capabilities to design, develop, produce and support fully missionized integrated systems and subsystems. Integrated Systems delivers best-value solutions, products and services in support of chosen segments within the broad market areas of battlespace awareness, command and control systems and integrated combat systems.
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