Northrop Grumman gets follow-on deal from Navy

Northrop Grumman Corp. has won its second follow-on contract with the Navy to provide tactical communication, network, test systems and services that assure that tactical data-link systems operate effectively and efficiently, the Los Angeles-based defense contractor announced Aug. 20.

The systems Northrop Grumman will provide allow the communication of information that enable network-centric warfare operations.

"Network-centric warfare provides warfighters critical, real-time situational awareness during combat operations," said Barry Rhine, president of defense mission systems for Northrop Grumman IT.

The follow-on, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract has an initial award value of approximately $6 million. It is worth up to $29 million over five years if all options are exercised.

Under the contract, Northrop Grumman's Information Technology unit provides its products and engineering services to the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington.

The Navsea contract is also a vehicle for U.S. and foreign military services to purchase Northrop Grumman IT's data link and interoperability systems at fixed prices. The contract was first awarded in June 1991 and was extended for the first time in May 1996.

Northrop Grumman's connectivity devices enable networking not of local systems and systems in geographically remote locations, via standard telephone lines, networks and tactical interfaces. Its link management systems oversee live network operations and provide the ability to plan and design networks, evaluate network operations and manage the communications problems of participating units.

Work on the contract will be performed at the Northrop Grumman IT facility in San Diego. Northrop Grumman IT, headquartered in Herndon, Va., provides IT solutions, engineering and business services in areas such as information systems integration; IT security; command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and homeland security.

Northrop Grumman employs 120,000 people and had revenue of $17.2 billion in 2002.