Northrop Grumman Highlights Range of International Security Capabilities at the Dubai Airshow 2011
LONDON – Nov. 9, 2011 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is participating in the Dubai Airshow 2011 where it will highlight its global security capabilities and programmes, including its world-leading expertise in airborne early warning and control systems, fire control radars, infrared countermeasures, and training and support services.
The Dubai Airshow 2011, the foremost aerospace event in the Middle East, will take place at the Airport Expo Dubai adjacent to Dubai International Airport, from 13-17 November.
Northrop Grumman will be exhibiting at stand E200 in the East Hall. The company’s chalets are at A47 and A48.
“Northrop Grumman’s strong relationship with the Gulf Cooperation Council [GCC] countries goes back many decades and is built on a legacy of trust and performance,” said Jim Pitts, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman’s Electronic Systems sector. “Our objective is to continue to work closely with our customers to provide long-term capability solutions and help enhance defence and national security across the region.”
Northrop Grumman has had an active presence in the Middle East for more than a decade with its regional headquarters in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and has well-established partnerships with the UAE and other countries in the region in support of a variety of defence and civil programmes.
“Our core competencies are strongly aligned with the current and evolving global security priorities of our customers, including cyber security and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance,” said John Brooks, vice president of international business development for Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace Systems sector and president of Northrop Grumman International Inc. “Northrop Grumman provides unmatched surveillance capabilities, with clear strengths in unmanned and airborne early warning technologies. Our customers in the Middle East demand the best, and it’s our responsibility to continue to meet and exceed their expectations.”
The company will highlight its world-leading capabilities in airborne early warning and control with a particular focus on the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye and the Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar.
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye programme couples a newly designed electronically scanned radar with a matching suite of sensors, avionics, processors, software and displays to provide the most technologically advanced command and control capability available worldwide. The AN/APY-9 radar with a two-generation leap in capability, is the backbone of this aircraft and provides greater flexibility and significantly improved detection and tracking over all terrains. To date, Northrop Grumman has delivered six E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft to the U.S. Navy. The programme is on track for Initial Operational Test and Evaluation in 2012 and Initial Operational Capability in the fleet in 2015.
The MESA surveillance radar is an advanced airborne surveillance sensor and provides national protection enabling sophisticated air-to-air and maritime coverage and integrated friend-or-foe identification. It is the first of its type with potential capabilities that have yet to be exploited. MESA provides beam-on-demand electronic scan flexibility, revisits in any direction at any time, extends range and special features and adjusts coverage to match threats. A scale model of the array will be available for viewing.
Northrop Grumman is recognized as the world leader in laser directed infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) with over 750 aircraft installations protecting 50 different aircraft types, ranging from very large jet transports to small fixed-wing, helicopter and tilt-wing aircraft. In conjunction with its international partner, SELEX Galileo, Northrop Grumman is developing a widely exportable laser DIRCM system designed to fill the requirements of international customers.
Northrop Grumman is also the world leader in airborne fire control radar. As the world’s sole supplier of fire control radars for 5th Generation fighters, the Company supplies the active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire control radars for the F-22 and F-35. It also supplies the APG-80 AESA fire control radar for the F-16 Block 60, and has produced thousands of F-16 mechanically scanned fire control radars for the U.S. Air Force and numerous international customers over the past 35 years. The most modern and capable F-16 mechanically scanned fire control radar is the APG-68(V)9 which implements high resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and long range air-to-air detection. To date, more than 700 APG-68(V)9 radars have been sold to 11 different nations.
In addition, the company’s airborne surveillance capability will be highlighted with a focus on the new Fire-X medium-range vertical unmanned aircraft system, the MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical unmanned air system (VUAS) and the lighter-than-air Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV).
The new Fire-X expanded capability vertical unmanned aircraft system combines the best of two proven air systems in a low cost, fast-fielding package: the versatile reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition architecture of the U.S. Navy’s MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical UAV, and the extended range, payload and cargo hauling capabilities of the commercially mature FAA-certified Bell 407 helicopter.
Fire Scout is designed to accommodate a variety of sensor payloads to provide unprecedented situational awareness and precision targeting support. A recent seven-month deployment aboardUSS Halyburton (FFG 40) and in Northern Afghanistan has continued to prove Fire Scout’s programme performance with high availability and sortie completion rates. Fire Scout will be ready to complete operational evaluation later this year.
Northrop Grumman is developing up to three LEMV long-endurance hybrid airship systems for the U.S. Army. This system is designed to be optionally manned, providing the flexibility to operate with or without a crew onboard, and sustain altitudes of 20,000 feet for a three-week period, to provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability.
Northrop Grumman’s capabilities in training solutions will also be highlighted including the programme of training and support for the Saudi Arabian National Guard.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
