Monday,
April 17, 2000:
Northrop Grumman Wins Contract to Develop New Mine Detection
System
MELBOURNE, Fla., USA ( Northrop Grumman Corp. Press Release ) -
Northrop Grumman Corporation's Integrated Systems and Aerostructures (ISA) sector
has been awarded a $40 million contract for the engineering and manufacturing development of the U.S. Navy's Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) . This is approximately a three-year effort for the Naval Surface Warfare Center, with a production decision expected before the end of 2004.
ALMDS uses a laser-based system mounted in a helicopter. The laser scans an extremely wide path of the ocean while the helicopter flies at high speed. ALMDS generates a topographic view of the ocean floor together with a computer-enhanced image of the shapes, sizes and locations of mines. The sensors can accurately locate and identify mines in a single pass over the target area while minimizing threats to the platform.
``Securing this prime contact for the ALMDS program positions us in a new market -- with a new Navy customer. This program builds upon our core capabilities in systems integration and software development,'' said Alan J. Doshier, sector vice president-Airborne Ground Surveillance and Battle Management Systems business unit.
``We have been able to integrate excellent laser technology from our teammate, Arete Associates of Tucson, Ariz., to create a product that is highly responsive to our customer's needs.''
The laser system will be contained in a pod and mounted on the helicopter which will have a workstation for the ALMDS operator. In addition to overall systems integration responsibility, Northrop Grumman will produce the pod and workstation.
Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems and Aerostructures sector, headquartered in Dallas, Tex., is a premier aerospace systems integration enterprise. ISA has the capabilities to design, develop, integrate, produce and support complete systems, as well as airframe subsystems, for airborne surveillance and battle management aircraft, early warning aircraft, airborne electronic warfare aircraft, air combat aircraft, and commercial aerostructures.
Northrop Grumman Corporation, headquartered in Los Angeles, is a world-class, high technology company providing innovative solutions in systems integration, defense electronics and information technology for its U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers, as a prime contractor, principal subcontractor, team member or preferred supplier. The company had revenues of $9 billion in 1999 and has a workforce of 45,000 employees.
News: No more helicopters for mines countermeasures ?