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

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

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

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

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121024/LA98563LOGO
[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(TM) 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(TM) 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
[http://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 [http://www.northropgrumman.com/] for more information.

Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121024/LA98563LOGOPRN Photo Desk
photodesk@prnewswire.comNorthrop Grumman Corporation

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

Web site: http://www.northropgrumman.com/