Northrop Grumman Delivers Upgraded U.S. Navy Targets

SAN DIEGO, July 7, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation
(NYSE:NOC) has delivered to the U.S. Navy two retrofitted BQM-34 Firebee aerial
targets, the first delivery in a series of BQM-34 targets retrofitted with
current production avionics hardware and software capability from the BQM-74E
product line.

The retrofit addresses avionics obsolescence issues faced by the oldest BQM-34
targets in the Navy inventory. An added benefit of integrating the modernized
avionics includes fully autonomous waypoint navigation and improved extreme low
altitude performance using the same mission planning system and vehicle avionics
suite currently delivered with Navy BQM-74 targets. Under two contracts recently
awarded by the Navy, Northrop Grumman will retrofit a total of 15 BQM-34
Firebees. The upgraded capability was initially demonstrated on August 17, 2005,
with a successful first flight featuring the enhanced integrated avionics unit
serving as the vehicle's autopilot. The two recent deliveries represent the
first production version of the upgraded capability.

"The incorporation of the avionics upgrade into the BQM-34S will provide the
Navy with an extremely economical means to fulfill their future target needs,"
said Hans Dall, manager of the Targets Program for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace
Systems sector. "The avionics upgrade will assure that the exceptional
capabilities provided by the BQM-34 will continue to support Navy needs for many
more years."

The primary mission of Firebee is to simulate tactical threats posed by enemy
aircraft and missiles for test and evaluation of defensive weapons systems. With
a top speed of Mach 0.97, and an operational envelope covering altitudes as low
as 10 feet above the sea surface and as high as 60,000 feet, the BQM-34 Firebee
is a highly versatile and reliable high performance aerial target system. It is
capable of performing seven-g turns while maintaining high airspeeds for
realistic threat presentations.

With its high-thrust engine, advanced microprocessor flight control system,
rugged airframe, and wide assortment of mission augmentation systems, the BQM-34
Firebee is a premier high performance aerial target system for today's military
test and evaluation requirements. Its modular, robust design; large internal and
external payload capacity; and abundant electrical power allows it to be readily
modified to meet specialized target and tactical unmanned aerial vehicle
missions. Such performance, and the ability to survive the hits and near misses
of repeated missions, explains why the Firebee has been in constant use by
American military services for more than five decades.

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: Sherri Pineda
Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems
(858) 618-4556
Sherri.pineda@ngc.com