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In January Northrop Grumman Corporation was awarded a contract by the Ministry of Defence of Brunei Darussalam to provide a Joint Operations Centre command and control capability for the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF). The contract, being undertaken by Northrop Grumman UK, includes the supply of an integrated Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) headquarters system and a deployable Joint Operations Centre (JOC) together with the provision of training and in-country support. The JOC will provide the RBAF with a facility that will deliver command and control capability for military commands and civil organisations at both national and international level, and will be interoperable with its NATO and ASEAN allies and coalition partners. A total of 14 potential vendors from around the world participated in the competition. This award follows the completion of a rigorous phase of system assessment in which Northrop Grumman successfully demonstrated the capabilities of its technical solution.
BATTLESPACE caught up with Paul James, International Business Account Manager, Northrop Grumman Information Systems in Fareham, UK, during SOFEX, to discuss this project and other developments
Northrop Grumman has a strong presence in the UK with a heritage spanning 100 years. The company operates from primary locations in London, Fareham, Chester, Coventry, New Malden, Peterborough, RAF Waddington and Solihull and provides avionics, communications, electronic warfare systems, marine navigation systems, unmanned ground vehicle systems, C4ISR solutions and mission planning, IT systems and software development and aircraft whole life support.
The Northrop Grumman Fareham facility was opened in 2003 and specialises in: Mission planning, tactical data links and battle space awareness solutions, integration of complex, mission-enabling systems, cyber security and services for defence, intelligence and government markets. The Fareham facility specialises in the development of C4ISR solutions and will be broadening its capability over the next few months, installing a cyber security test range. Headed by Sir Nigel Essenhigh, Chief Executive of the Information Systems Europe business, the facility employs 150 people, many of whom are engineers.
“What gave you the winning edge over your competitors to win the Brunei contract?”
“It was a hard fight with an initial fourteen companies bidding. Northrop Grumman presented its broad range of experience in national security solutions from strategic and tactical command and control systems, to situational awareness for defence and civil security applications, and unmanned ground systems, allowing the flexibility to develop a solution tailored to the Customer’s requirements. This ability to configure core systems to match customer requirements was a key factor. This is matched by UK-based expertise, specialist facilities and a proven track record of delivery to customers in the UK, throughout NATO and around the world.”
“Could you give an outline as to the Brunei contract requirements?”
“The main requirement is to network the information from Brunei government departments for both fixed and deployed scenarios. We have to collate information from J1 to J9 for both military and civil potential events. Our system will integrate legacy systems to give a national Common Operational Picture.”
“Are there other systems Northrop Grumman can offer to compliment its C2 capability?”
“I-JOCCS, is an operational and tactical level static and mobile headquarters C4I solution, whilst I-TaCCS is a land, sea and air and dismounted soldier-based C4I solution including the MIP messaging system. We are able to supplement these with in-field assets such as our industry leading UAVs.”
“Do you see the Middle East as a key market?”
“Yes, we see huge potential for Northrop Grumman products being deployed in the area, and we have significant interest already from Saudi Arabia and the UAE where we have been the incumbent for a number of years.”
To underline this, Northrop Grumman UK showcased a cross-section of its integrated security solutions with equipment, displays and presentations of key technologies at SOFEX. Northrop Grumman's leading capability in tactical command and control systems including the software application Command and Control for the PC (C2PC) were featured. Northrop Grumman's capabilities in critical infrastructure, force protection and border security were also featured. Systems highlighted were Advanced Security and Integrated Systems Technology (ASIST) and the Harbour and Coastal Security (HCS) system.
ASIST, deployed at more than 100 sites worldwide, provides enhanced security situational awareness through the correlation of multiple off-the-shelf sensors and cameras. It extends detection well beyond the perimeter and can be integrated with existing systems to create a layered approach to security. HCS integrates off-the-shelf computers, communications, and sensors with sensor processing to provide a flexible, standards-based command and control system.
“C2PC has been a great success and seems to have become the system of Blue Force Tracking system of choice around the world?”
“Yes, some of our technology comes from our FBCB2 system deployed for the U.S. Army. But in the U.K. we are also developing and provide a full suite of Tactical Command & Control solutions, such as C2PC Tactical, Bear Claw and Kodiak. C2PC, in particular, provides a common tactical picture for operational command and control, improving situational awareness and enhancing operational and tactical decision making. The system is now in service in more than 40 countries with 100,000 users. Our segment’s turnover grew significantly in 2009.” Paul James continued.
C2PC provides the user interface/core functionality for many operations command systems around the world including NATO's Maritime Command & Control System (MCCIS), the UK MoD's Joint Operations Command System (JOCS) and Royal Navy Command Support System (RNCSS), the system is installed on every Royal navy warship.
Another Northrop product is Critical Incident Response System (CIRS). Using its Critical Incident Response System (CIRS), Northrop Grumman demonstrates its ability to integrate seamlessly a variety of national security solutions into a common situational awareness display for crisis management. CIRS combines the best hardware and software allowing commanders to plan quickly and intuitively, engage and manage emergency situations and complex events. The system's TouchTable(tm) enables group collaboration and discovery at the local site, and remote information sharing over IP to any other TouchTable(tm) or IP enabled device. This ensures that all emergency services and first responders are working against the same information.
Northrop also has a considerable capability in unmanned ground systems through its Unmanned Ground Vehicle business. Products include Cutlass, Wheelbarrow Mk 9, Caliber T5 and robots for remote handling of hazardous threats, tactical and surveillance operations. In December 2006, Northrop Grumman was awarded a contract by the U.K. MoD for the CUTLASS programme, the next generation of unmanned explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) vehicle. Production of the CUTLASS vehicles will begin at the end of 2010. CUTLASS offers the latest technology in a modular design and allows the user to deal with the full range of both military and improvised explosive devices. The CUTLASS system incorporates a wide range of payloads, sensors and tools. The robot also incorporates powerful cameras, which can be used to automatically change the tool on the end of its extendible manipulator arm without human intervention. The robot's joystick is equipped with a state-of-the-art gripper and has nine degrees of freedom for greater movement and agility.
Having developed a considerable business in its U.S. Home market, Northrop Grumman Information Systems is now a leading global provider of advanced solutions that deliver timely, enabling information where it’s needed most for its military, intelligence, civilian, state and local, and commercial customers around the world. The segment is a $8.6 billion business employing more than 24,000 employees with offices in 50 states and 18 countries.
The Northrop Grumman Information Systems message speaks for itself
‘Our customers look to us for large-scale enterprise solutions. We support commanders who manage far-flung forces via global command, control and communications systems; police and firefighters who will access high-speed data and video over a new broadband wireless network; battlefield commanders who use a tactical Internet to lead their troops; Department of Homeland Security staffers who rely on their classified network infrastructure; intelligence analysts who rely on their systems to get actionable information into the right hands at the right time; missile defense analysts who model and simulate scenarios at the Joint National Integration Center; states, counties and cities who rely on the management of their information infrastructures to deliver responsive services to their citizens; and businesses that adopt new software solutions to make their enterprise processes run more smoothly and efficiently.’
We are delighted to announce that Northrop Grumman Electronic
Systems is the new sponsor for the BATTLESPACE enews service, taking over from DRS Systems Inc. We would like to thank DRS for their valuable support over the last ten years.
Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems
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. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
Since the 1930s, the company's Linthicum, Md.-based Electronic Systems sector has distinguished itself through engineering innovation, pioneering design, breakthrough thinking and, above all, achievement. Today, Electronic Systems is a global leader in designing and developing advanced solutions for the U.S. Department of Defense and various other governmental agencies as well as numerous international customers. The sector's portfolio of defense and commercial electronics and systems include airborne radar sensors, navigation systems, electronic countermeasures, precision weapons, airspace management systems, communications systems, space sensors, marine and naval systems, and government systems.
Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector provides some of the most sought-after radar, electronic warfare and targeting systems in the aerospace and defense marketplace today. The company's sophisticated technologies form the backbone of the integrated electronic battlefield – from undersea to outer space and cyberspace.
Electronic Systems was formed in 1996 when Northrop Grumman acquired the former Westinghouse Electronic Systems Group. The corporation, including Electronic Systems, conducts most of its business with the U.S. Government, principally the Department of Defense. However, about 20 percent of the Electronic Systems sector's business is with international customers.
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