Northrop to build electronic combat system

Northrop Grumman Corp. won a two-year, $26.7 million contract from the Naval Air Systems Command to develop and demonstrate an electronic combat support system, the company said today.

Northrop Grumman's defense systems division in Rolling Meadows, Ill., will create and demonstrate four prototype units for the Agile Global Combat Support system. The system supports avionics and other electronics on the following platforms: the Navy F-18 and E-2C aircraft; the Army Paladin, Apache helicopter and M-1 battle tank; Marine Corps light armored vehicles and Air Force F-15 aircraft. The system is scheduled for testing and fielding from 2006 through 2008.

"The interoperability between all of the U.S. military services and their coalition partners will allow for unprecedented support to the warfighter," said Don Kump, vice president of Northrop Grumman's automatic test equipment and simulation unit.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, Northrop Grumman is No. 2 on Washington Technology's 2004 Top 100 list.