Northrop Grumman Awarded $276 Million Contract to Field Battlefield Airborne Communications...

Northrop Grumman Awarded $276 Million Contract to Field Battlefield Airborne
Communications Node

SAN DIEGO, July 14, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. Air Force awarded Northrop
Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a $276 million contract on June 24 for fielding
and operational deployment of the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node
(BACN), an airborne communications system that provides warfighters with
critical real-time battlefield information.

The 653rd Electronic Systems Group, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., made the
award to fulfill an urgent and compelling requirement for enhanced
communications capability for Overseas Contingency Operation. Tasking under the
joint urgent operational need includes installing BACN on two Bombardier BD-700
Global Express aircraft and two Global Hawk Block 20 unmanned aerial vehicles.

The contract will also fund the company's support for continuing operations of
the existing BACN-equipped BD-700, which the Air Force deployed to meet
warfighter requirements in December 2008.

"BACN's ability to translate and share data among disparate battlefield
communications systems using our gateway manager algorithms and Internet
protocols resolves interoperability problems, provides commanders and
warfighters with battle-space-awareness, and most importantly, gives the ground
soldier persistent communications with ground support platforms and command
centers," said Roger Fujii, vice president of Network Communication Systems for
Northrop Grumman's Information Systems sector.

Designed for use in a variety of unmanned and manned aircraft, BACN is a
forward-deployed airborne communications relay and network-centric enterprise
information server. BACN extends communications ranges, bridges between radio
frequencies and "translates" among incompatible communications systems to enable
information sharing and enhanced situational awareness. Northrop Grumman
developed BACN under a Defense Microelectronics Activity contract as part of the
Interim Gateway program.

"Battlefield communications advancements in aerial gateway technology have
significantly enhanced our warfighter's combat effectiveness and capability to
stop the adversary while saving countless lives of our troops and allied
forces," said Colonel Cordell DeLapena, commander of the 653rd Electronic
Systems Group at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.

The award solidifies Northrop Grumman's leadership in network-centric operations
while providing proven technology and operational expertise to the combatant
commanders.

Production and integration will be performed at Northrop Grumman facilities in
San Diego.

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: Sudi Bruni
Northrop Grumman Information Systems
(858) 592-3407
sudi.bruni@ngc.com