HUNTSVILLE, Ala., May 22, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) this month submitted its Phase II bid for the prime contractor role for the U.S. Army's Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) competition. The proposal was submitted to the Army on May 4.
Northrop Grumman leads one of two teams awarded an 11-month Phase I contract in Sept. of 2008 to begin preliminary design and development. The Army is expected to down-select to one team in August. IBCS is considered the first step towards an integrated air and missile defense battle command capability for the Army, and a joint capability for the nation. The program will set the stage for future integration of sensors and weapons using standard interfaces.
"Our team has developed a non-proprietary, open architecture approach that connects Army systems with joint systems, allowing the services to operate as one integrated force," said Karen Williams, vice president for Air and Missile Defense Systems, Northrop Grumman Information Systems. "IBCS is not only about connecting the right sensor with the right shooter, it is about integrating a robust battle command element that generates the situational awareness that allows warfighters to make the right battlespace choices and ensure mission success. This is in our team's sweet spot and we are ready to help the Army move forward on IBCS and get this critical capability deployed to the warfighter."
Northrop Grumman is leading a team that includes The Boeing Company; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Harris Corporation; Schafer Corporation; Torch Technologies Inc.; Numerica; Applied Data Trends; COLSA; Space and Missile Defense Technologies (SMDT); CohesionForce Inc.; Millenium Engineering and Integration Company; RhinoCorp, ltd. Company; and Tobyhanna Army Depot. If selected, Northrop Grumman will headquarter its IBCS program in Huntsville, Ala.
In addition to submitting the phase II bid in May, the Northrop Grumman-led team also completed a Preliminary Design Review, which occurred this week.
IBCS will establish a network-centric system-of-systems solution for integrating sensors, shooters, and battle management, command, control, communications and intelligence systems for Army air and missile defense responsibilities. Programs such as Patriot, SLAMRAAM, JLENS, Sentinel and THAAD will be connected via an integrated fire control network that allows the warfighter to use any sensor and any weapon to achieve mission objectives. The program is expected to be fielded by 2014.
The program is being managed by the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Project Office, Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space in Huntsville, Ala.
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.
CONTACT:
Marynoele Benson
Northrop Grumman Information Systems
(703) 345-6734
Marynoele.benson@ngc.com