Photo Release -- Northrop Grumman Completes Delivery of 44th F-5 Tiger Adversary...

Photo Release -- Northrop Grumman Completes Delivery of 44th F-5 Tiger Adversary
Aircraft to United States Navy; Former Swiss-Owned F-5E Aircraft Modified for
U.S. Use

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., April 29, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman
(NYSE:NOC) employees today celebrated the delivery of their 44th modified F-5
Tiger for the U.S. Navy. In a ceremony at the company's East Coast Aircraft
Manufacturing and Flight Test Center, officials from NAVAIR PMA 207 accepted the
delivery of the final aircraft under the current Navy F-5
Acquisition/Re-capitalization Program, which provided for the modification of 44
Swiss Air Force aircraft into 41 F-5N's (single-seat aircraft) and three F-5F's
(two-seat trainers).

Photos accompanying this release are available at:
http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/

"The transformation of these formerly Swiss-owned fighters to U.S. Navy assets
was a smart, strategic, and cost-effective move," said Capt. James Wallace, PMA
207 program manager. "It speaks to the entire team's effort that all of the
aircraft were delivered on cost and on schedule. The objective of this program
was to achieve a cost-effective solution for providing our naval aviators with
real-time, hands-on training to simulate enemy aircraft in aerial combat
training exercises, which only platforms like the F-5 can deliver. Clearly, we
achieved that goal."

"The team's ability to deliver on our contract commitments is a testament to the
talent of our U.S. Navy/Northrop Grumman team to get the job done. As the
original manufacturer, our generations of experience in building new, and
modifying existing, military aircraft greatly benefited our Navy customer," said
Rick Matthews, Northrop Grumman vice president for east coast production
operations and St. Augustine site manager. "We have supported the global F-5
fleet for more than 40 years."

The F-5 is an agile, highly maneuverable, reliable supersonic fighter, combining
advanced aerodynamic design, engine performance and low operating costs. A
highlight of the effort, according to Matthews, included the conversion of three
single cockpit F-5E aircraft to dual cockpit F-5F aircraft.

"This conversion replaced the F-5E forward fuselage with a refurbished F-5F
forward fuselage at the basic manufacturing attachment assembly point," Matthews
said. "It was a monumental task completed by outstanding craftsmen and women."

"The company has long had the expertise to maintain and enhance the structural
integrity of the F-5 airplane to ensure satisfactory, cost-effective structural
integrity for the newly extended service life and at the more severe operational
spectrums anticipated by countries operating the F-5," Matthews said.

Since 1999, Northrop Grumman has been under contract to the U.S. Navy to perform
depot level maintenance for the Navy's fleet of F-5E/F aircraft. This phased
depot maintenance program provides structurally sound F-5 aircraft that will
operate safely in the severe spectrum associated with the adversary role of the
F-5 fleet.

"Today, we are focused on a total system support plan approach to ensure all
current and future F-5 users can obtain the necessary structure spare parts and
systems upgrades well into the future," Matthews added.

Northrop Grumman continues to support F-5 user air forces with cost-effective
support solutions through the U.S. Air Force (under foreign military sales
agreements) and through direct contracts with user air forces. Many of the
international F-5 operators are considering (and some have committed to) basic
structural life extension programs and avionics/subsystems upgrade packages to
obtain an effective lead-in trainer with a modest investment.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000
employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace,
electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to
government and commercial customers worldwide.

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CONTACT: Dianne Baumert-Moyik
Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems
(516) 754-2645
dianne.baumert-moyik@ngc.com