(By Balaseshan) Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:NOC) said it received a $44.3 million contract from the U.S. Navy to modify E-6B Mercury aircraft with high-speed, secure networking and communications.
With the Block II Modification, the E-6B aircraft will be able to connect to secure U.S. Department of Defense networks at high data rates while still in flight.
The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman contract to integrate high-speed, secure communications and networking systems on an E-6B Mercury aircraft, part of the Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) strategic communications relay mission.
Navy E-6B TACAMO aircraft provide survivable and reliable airborne command, control and communications between the president of the United States, secretary of Defense, and U.S. strategic and nonstrategic forces.
The upgrade to the E-6B will enable users on board the aircraft to access mission-essential, near-real-time information from worldwide sources without impacting the operational performance of the aircraft.
Northrop Grumman would design and produce networking and communications systems, first integrating the systems into the E-6B Systems Integration Laboratory and then on a single E-6B aircraft.
Under the contract, awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command, Northrop Grumman would also provide testing, logistics and training to support operational fielding.
The Navy plans to field the enhanced capability to the entire fleet of E-6B aircraft through a follow-on contract. Navy E-6B aircraft are used to conduct both the TACAMO and U.S. Strategic Command Airborne Command Post missions.
NOC is trading down 0.47% at $61.19 on Tuesday. The stock has been trading between $49.20 and $70.61 for the past 52 weeks.