Northrop lands FAA communications maintenance award

Northrop Grumman Corp. will provide national maintenance services and logistics support to the Federal Aviation Administration under a five-year contract with a not-to-exceed value of $32 million.

The award covers the maintenance of several critical FAA communications products and systems, including the Integrated Communications Switching System, Rapid Deployment Voice Switch, Enhanced Terminal Voice Switch and Small Tower Voice Switch.

Those systems are the primary communications links between air traffic controllers and crews aboard commercial aircraft, according to the announcement Northrop Grumman made today.

Under the terms of the contract, the company will ensure that the existing communications systems, hardware, firmware and documentation are supported into 2015.

The company will supply round-the-clock technical support, including next-day delivery of critical repairs.

To date, Northrop Grumman has delivered more than 1,400 voice communications systems and more than 600 digital voice recorder systems to customers worldwide.

The company’s Commercial Repair Center, a state-of-the-art facility that provides accelerated service and support, will assist with the network-centric hardware, information technology, security and other air traffic control services, said John Jadik, vice president of communications, intelligence and networking solutions in the company’s Land and Self-Protection Systems Division.

Northrop Grumman, of Los Angeles, ranks No. 2 on Washington Technology’s 2010 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.