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From detection, to tracking, to engagement, Northrop Grumman is bringing its expertise to bear in the development of a global layered missile-defense
capability. |
Mclean VA (SPX) -- The U.S. Missile Defense Agency has awarded Northrop Grumman a $142 million follow-on contract for systems engineering, planning and
logistics support for its Airborne Laser boost phase missile defense program.
The Airborne Laser system is a high-energy, oxygen-iodine laser and beam control system in a Boeing 747 aircraft that can detect, track and destroy ballistic missiles during boost phase
using a high-power laser beam.
Under the Airborne Laser Advisory and Assistance Services contract, Northrop Grumman's Information Technology (IT) sector will provide technical and administrative support, including
understanding technical program challenges, analyzing and predicting performance and conducting optimal system-design plans for the Airborne Laser Program Office, Kirtland Air Force Base,
N.M., through 2009.
"Our technical expertise will help the Missile Defense Agency successfully execute this critical program to provide an advanced missile defense capability using high-energy lasers. ABL will
bring speed-of-light capability to missile defense," said Kent Schneider, president of Northrop Grumman IT's Defense Enterprise Solutions business unit.
Additional work on the contract includes analysis, systems engineering and modeling and simulation for the chemical oxygen-iodine laser device, which causes structural damage to a target
missile, and the beam control system, which senses the target, selects an aim-point, and directs the laser to that aim-point. The beam control system also senses and corrects for distortions
caused by the atmosphere along the beam path.
Northrop Grumman IT will also help analyze system tests, provide administrative support for security and personnel and support the Missile Defense Agency's airborne sensor program
operations.
The Northrop Grumman IT team includes the following major subcontractors: Aegis Technologies Group, Huntsville, Ala.; Apogen Technologies, Springfield, Va. And New Orleans, La.; ATK Mission
Research, Santa Barbara, Calif.; MZA Associates Corporation, Albuquerque, N.M.; National Security Research, Arlington, Va.; Schafer Corporation, Chelmsford, Mass.; and Science Applications
International Corporation, San Diego, Calif.
From detection, to tracking, to engagement, Northrop Grumman is bringing its expertise to bear in the development of a global layered missile-defense capability.
In the boost phase, Northrop Grumman leads an industry team on the Kinetic Energy Interceptors program and is developing the chemical laser portion of the Airborne Laser. For the
Ground-based Midcourse Defense program, Northrop Grumman provides the critical Ground-based Midcourse Defense fire control/communications system.
In the area of sensors, the company is prime for the Space Tracking and Surveillance System and is currently the prime on the Defense Support Program. In modeling and simulation, Northrop
Grumman is prime at the Joint National Integration Center, the nation's premier missile defense wargaming center.
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File photo of the Sea-Lite beam director. |
Mclean VA (SPX) Mar 01, 2005 - The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a follow-on contract for operations and maintenance of lasers
and facility-support systems used to test the effects of lasers against physical threats.
Northrop Grumman's Information Technology (IT) sector will provide engineering and technical support for the High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility at the White Sands Missile Range,
N.M., and equipment including the mid-infrared advanced chemical laser (MIRACL), the Sea-Lite beam director and the vacuum test system.
The MIRACL is the free world's first megawatt-class, continuous wave, deuterium fluoride chemical laser. The Sea-Lite beam director is a stabilized, 1.8-meter diameter, megawatt-class,
high-power, laser beam-expanding telescope capable of handling close-in tactical targeting scenarios.
The vacuum test system consists of two major subsystems that allow laser effects and space system testing in a vacuum environment. The system is connected to the MIRACL laser through a
series of optics and a 1,000-feet-long laser beam pipe.
In addition to laser tests, the chamber can be used for a range of high-altitude space systems testing, such as payloads and payload fairings and the testing of astronomical instruments.
Northrop Grumman IT will also provide support for laboratory services, laser-experiment setup, design and documentation for test facility users.
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Northrop Grumman Corp. won a $142 million follow-on contract from the Missile Defense Agency for systems engineering, planning and logistics support for its Airborne Laser boost-phase
missile defense program, the company said today.
The airborne laser systems are high-energy, oxygen-iodine laser and beam control systems in Boeing 747 airplanes. They detect, track and destroy ballistic missiles during their boost phase
using a high-power laser beam.
Under the Airborne Laser Advisory and Assistance Services contract, Northrop Grumman's IT division of McLean, Va., will provide technical and administrative support that includes
understanding technical program challenges, analyzing and predicting performance and conducting optimal system-design plans.
The work will take place at Kirkland Air Force Base in New Mexico. The company also will help analyze system tests, provide administrative support for security and personnel and support the
Missile Defense Agency's airborne sensor program operations. Northrop Grumman will do the work through 2009.
Northrop Grumman's teammates include Aegis Technologies Group Inc., Apogen Technologies Inc., ATK Mission Research, MZA Associates Corp., National Security Research Inc., Schafer Corp. and
Science Applications International Corp.
Headquartered in Los Angeles, Northrop Grumman is No. 2 on Washington Technology's 2004 Top 100 list of government contractors. The company has more than 125,000 employees and had 2004
revenue of about $29.9 billion.
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