Northrop Grumman zeros in on chem-bio defense

Northrop Grumman Corp. has established its Chem-Bio Defense Technology Center to develop next-generation technologies that will build on the company's Biohazard Detection System, which is being installed in Postal Service facilities nationwide.

The center, located at the company's Electronic Systems sector's Advanced Technology Laboratory outside Baltimore, will leverage Northrop Grumman expertise to detect and identify minute amounts of chemical or biological agents and warn against them in time to effectively treat those affected by an attack.

According to Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman, the center is executing its first development contract and negotiating or competing for others with the Defense and Homeland Security departments.

"In establishing the center, we acknowledge the seriousness of the chem-bio threat," said Taylor Lawrence, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Systems Development and Technology division. "The technologies we're refining will reduce the size and cost of sensors and detection systems as well as make them faster and more sensitive."

With 2003 sales of $26.2 billion, Northrop Grumman ranked No. 2 on Washington Technology's 2003 Top 100 list, which measures federal contracting revenue.