Northrop Grumman to Continue Development of GPS-Free Inertial Navigation System

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Oct. 5, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman
Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has received a contract modification from the U.S.
Department of Defense to further demonstrate a revolutionary advance in inertial
navigation. The demonstration project makes use of traditional electro-optic
(EO) cameras, atomic clocks, and advanced vision processing technologies to
provide inertial navigation system (INS) updates to aircraft, ground vehicles
and ground troops without the need for continuous Global Positioning System
(GPS) input to maintain precise position and time.

Called LEGAND, for LADAR EO GPS/INS atomic clock navigation demonstration, the
project aims to provide ground troops, aircraft, and ground vehicles the
capability to maintain precision navigation in places not currently possible due
to challenged or denied access to GPS, thus sustaining their operations. The
LEGAND system processes visual motion observations to provide INS updates while
the atomic clock maintains time synchronization, providing users precision
navigation while rapidly re-acquiring partial or complete GPS input.

"When GPS access is denied our warfighters in urban or indoor environments, they
are often unable to maintain mission engagement. This inability to update the
inertial navigation system with GPS causes a gradual loss of its precision
navigation capability resulting in mission degradation or cancellation," said
Gorik Hossepian, vice president of Navigation and Positioning Systems for
Northrop Grumman's Navigation Systems Division. "This translates into less time
focused on potential hostile targets of interest."

Hossepian noted that LEGAND's small size, weight and power requirements make it
highly adaptable to current unmanned aircraft and will provide ground commanders
critical battlespace awareness. "The innovative inertial navigation system can
also benefit individual soldiers operating in remote areas on the ground," he
added.

Two successful studies of the core LEGAND technologies were completed by
Northrop Grumman in September 2008 and February 2009 and the current
demonstration hardware development phase funded by this contract modification is
expected to continue through September 2010.

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

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CONTACT: Gina Piellusch
Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems
(818) 715-2285
gina.piellusch@ngc.com