- Marks first international signing for Block 40 Global Hawks
CHICAGO and BRUSSELS, May 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has announced it has signed a $1.7 billion (euro 1.2 billion) contract for NATO's Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) system. Operating under NATO command, AGS is expected to be the major data source for NATO's system for Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (JISR).
The contract is intended to provide for the purchase and initial operation and maintenance of five Block 40 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft equipped with an advanced ground surveillance radar sensor -- the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP). Under the contract, European industry contributors will be responsible for development and delivery of the transportable ground stations suitable for in-theatre support directly to commanders of deployed forces, mobile ground stations for close support to moving operations, and remote workstations for higher echelon commands.
Northrop Grumman and its industrial partners joined NATO leadership and 28 ministers of defense from NATO member countries for the signing today in Chicago.
Signed by the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance Management Agency (NAGSMA) during the NATO 2012 Summit, the trans-Atlantic multinational contract supports NATO's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance requirements for multinational theater operations, peacekeeping missions and disaster relief efforts.
Photographs of the event can be found at http://media.globenewswire.com/noc
"This Alliance Ground Surveillance program has been a major acquisition priority for NATO. This is an historic moment and we are honored to be bringing this vital, leading edge capability to all NATO member nations," said Otfried Wohlleben, NAGSMA Program Manager. "The real-time long-endurance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance that this will provide will be invaluable to NATO forces around the world and the success of their missions."
The 13 nations, including Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the United States, are expected to participate in the system's acquisition, and all 28 alliance nations are to participate in the long-term support of the program.
"Northrop Grumman and our entire trans-Atlantic industry team are proud to be bringing this strategic capability to NATO and its member nations," said Wes Bush, chairman, chief executive officer and president, Northrop Grumman. "It was our collective goal from the start to ensure an affordable and robust capability that will meet the alliance's need for persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to ground, maritime and air commanders, anytime and anywhere in the world.