ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Jan. 15, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Electronic Systems sector has been awarded a four-year contract by the U.S. Army's Communications and Electronics Command, Fort Monmouth, N.J., for follow-on production of its AN/TPQ-36(V)8 Firefinder radar system upgrade.
The contract calls for an additional 39 Firefinder radar set kits and spares valued at approximately $70 million, provided all options are exercised. The kit consists primarily of a new operator shelter and radar processor that will be used with an existing antenna. To date, 54 AN/TPQ-36(V)8 systems have been fielded by active Army, Army Reserve, National Guard and U.S. Marine Corps units.
Firefinder is used by field artillery units to provide enemy mortar, artillery and rocket-launch locations; target acquisition; and counterfire support for divisions, brigades and rapid deployment task forces.
"The AN/TPQ-36(V)8 represents the latest all-digital, highly mobile counter-battery radar fielded by the U.S.," said Dr. Robert Weber, Firefinder program manager for Northrop Grumman. "This variant improves significantly upon previous versions in system performance, crew survivability, life-cycle cost and maintainability." Dr. Weber credited the Firefinder integrated product team at Rolling Meadows with consistently meeting program production requirements.
The Firefinder system locates targets by using X-band radar to detect incoming mortar and artillery rounds and rockets. It then determines the launchers' positions and relays targeting data to a fire direction center (FDC) for counter-battery engagement.
Firefinder can also be used to correct the fall of friendly artillery fire by detecting rounds in flight and extrapolating impact points. This information is then passed back to the FDC to enable more precise target engagement with subsequent rounds.
Headquartered in Baltimore, Md., Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems is a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of defense electronics systems including airborne radar systems, navigation systems, electronic warfare systems, precision weapons, airspace management systems, air defense systems, communications systems, space systems, marine systems, oceanic and naval systems, logistics systems, and automation and information systems.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is an $18 billion, global defense company with its worldwide headquarters in Los Angeles. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in defense and commercial electronics, systems integration, information technology and nuclear and non-nuclear shipbuilding and systems. With nearly 100,000 employees and operations in 44 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.
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