Strategic Alliance Produces Groundbreaking Infrared Countermeasure Technology for Northrop Grumman's ASALTT Product Line

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Northrop Grumman, Pranalytica develop high brightness, high power laser system,
which sets new standard for power, beam quality and size

APOPKA, Fla., Jan. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Northrop Grumman Corporation
(NYSE: NOC) announced a new variant of the current All Semiconductor Airborne
Laser Threat Terminator (ASALTT) product line that will house a high brightness
and high power Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) module. ASALTT is a family of
infrared countermeasure systems that protect fixed-wing and rotary military
aircraft.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121024/LA98563LOGO)

The new QCL module will operate at 10 watts in the mid-wave infrared (MWIR)
spectrum, enabling real-time color ratio control and further diversifying the
Technology Readiness Level 6 ASALTT family of laser systems. This groundbreaking
milestone was executed in collaboration with Pranalytica, Inc., a
California-based company that tailored the QCL properties and performance for
this new design.

"It is through talent, innovation and a strategic relationship that we are able
to produce a 10-watt MWIR module, packaged to the size of a smartphone," said
Gordon Stewart, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Laser
Systems business unit.

"Through collaboration, we have met both double-digit power specifications and
the high beam quality sought for next-generation laser systems that satisfy
size, weight and power requirements. Previously these specifications could not
be met," said Kumar Patel, president and CEO of Pranalytica.

The ASALTT product line technology offers a variety of opto-mechanical and
environmentally stable laser systems designed to defeat enemy threats, taking
advantage of the most advanced laser technologies currently available from
government, industry and academia. Designed with infrared countermeasures in
mind, the modular architecture also provides for utilization of key subsystems
in adjacent markets, such as covert markers and pointers.

Northrop Grumman Laser Systems is one of the world's leading manufacturers of
military electro-optical (EO) targeting systems. These systems include
ground-based (man-portable, handheld and vehicle-mounted) EO imaging/ranging
systems for target location, laser designators/markers for precise guidance of
smart munitions, airborne laser rangefinders and designators fielded onboard
many of the world's most sophisticated manned and unmanned aircraft.

About Pranalytica

Pranalytica is a leader in the development and engineering of QCLs operating in
the 3.6 mm to greater than 16 mm region. Pranalytica has developed new structure
designs for QCLs leading to high powers and high wallplug efficiencies at all
wavelengths. Using their patented designs as well as proprietary fabrication
technology, Pranalytica is able to commercially offer fully packaged, highest
power and highest wallplug efficiency mid-wave and long-wave infrared QCLs for a
broad range of defense, homeland security, industrial and health-related
applications. (www.pranalytica.com)

About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative
systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cybersecurity, C4ISR, and
logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide.
Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

SOURCE Northrop Grumman Corporation

Yolanda Murphy, +1-410-649-0640, yolanda.murphy@ngc.com