Northrop Grumman to demo new radar system

Northrop Grumman Corp. has won a six-year, $888 million contract for work on the next phase of the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program, the company said.

The MP-RTIP is an Air Force program established to develop a modular radar system that can be used in manned and unmanned aircraft to track and identify stationary and moving vehicles, as well as low-flying cruise missiles.

The new contract covers the system development and demonstration phase. Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman previously designed the radar under a three-year, $410 million contract awarded in December 2000.

The Air Force plans to deploy the radar in its RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned aerial reconnaissance system and E-10A/Multi-Sensor Command and Control Aircraft. The radar system allows commanders to conduct simultaneous air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions over a wide geographic area.

"MP-RTIP's advanced target detection, identification and tracking capabilities are central to helping the E-10A and Global Hawk reach their potential as critical nodes in the Air Force's command and control constellation," said Gary Ervin, sector vice president of Northrop Grumman's Air Combat Systems.

Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems will lead the overall system development and demonstration effort. The company's Electronic Systems sector is working with Raytheon Space & Airborne Systems to develop and produce the MP-RTIP hardware. The two companies will produce six radar systems and expect to begin flight-testing the first development unit in 2006.

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. Raytheon Co. ranked No. 6. Washington Technology's 2004 rankings are due out May 10.