Northrop Grumman lands Air Force message system deal

Northrop Grumman Corp. has won a $49.9 million contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory to provide systems engineering to users of technologies for secure messaging systems.

Under the contract, the company will operate and maintain the processor applications and extensions for communications support at various government sites, the Defense Department said.

Northrop Grumman also will develop techniques to implement secure messaging technologies. The company will deliver software, hardware and functional and technical documentation. Messaging systems allow computer users to communicate with each other. They can involve e-mail, instant messages, or other proprietary systems.

Northrop Grumman will perform the work at its defense mission systems facility in Bellevue, Neb. The company expects to complete the project by October 2011.

The Air Force Research Laboratory develops and integrates warfighting technologies for the country's air and space forces. It conducts basic research, applied research and advanced technology development.

Northrop Grumman of Los Angeles has more than 125,000 workers and has annual revenue of $29.9 billion. The company ranks No. 2 on Washington Technology's 2005 Top 100 list of federal prime contractors.