Friday, January 29, 2010

Raytheon-Boeing Team Completes First Joint Air-to-Ground Missile Captive Flight Test

Raytheon-Boeing Team Completes First Joint Air-to-Ground Missile Captive Flight Test
January 29, 2010

TUCSON, Ariz., -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) completed a series of captive flight tests for the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile competition. The tests prove the system is ready for guided test shots.

"The Raytheon-Boeing JAGM is a mature, capable system. We have proved the technical readiness of this superior warfighting solution," said Bob Francois, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Advanced Missiles and Unmanned Systems product line. "JAGM meets the warfighter's needs and is affordable across the acquisition spectrum including development, operations and support costs."

JAGM will replace three legacy missiles currently in the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps inventory. The Raytheon-Boeing team's JAGM features a Boeing body, a Boeing warhead and a Raytheon tri-mode seeker. The tri-mode seeker leverages technology used on the Raytheon GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II and improved Precision Attack Missile. The tri-mode seeker enables JAGM to attack a variety of fixed and moving targets regardless of weather conditions.

"Boeing is renowned for its proficiency in integrating weapons on platforms like the Super Hornet and AH-64D Apache Longbow," said Carl Avila, Boeing's director of Advanced Weapons and Missile Systems. "When combined with Raytheon's expertise in developing seekers for guided weapons, our JAGM solution is the low-risk solution for operations on rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft and operations at very cold temperatures."

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General Dynamics Awarded $24 Million to Plan Maintenance Work on USS New Hampshire

General Dynamics Awarded $24 Million to Plan Maintenance Work on USS New Hampshire
January 29, 2010 10:32:59 AM

GROTON, Conn., Jan 29, 2010 -- General Dynamics Electric Boat has been awarded a $23.7 million contract modification by the U.S. Navy to prepare for the post-shakedown availability (PSA) on the nuclear submarine New Hampshire (SSN-778). Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
The PSA, which will comprise maintenance, repairs, alterations and testing, will be performed in Groton and is expected to begin in February. Up to 800 employees will be engaged in the work, which is scheduled for completion in September 2010.

New Hampshire, the fifth ship of the Virginia Class, was delivered to the Navy in August 2008. Electric Boat and its construction teammate, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, have received contracts to produce a total of 18 Virginia-class submarines. Thirty ships are planned altogether.

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Northrop Grumman Redelivers USS George H.W. Bush Following Successful Modernization and Maintenance Work

Northrop Grumman Redelivers USS George H.W. Bush Following Successful Modernization and Maintenance Work
January 29, 2010

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Jan. 29, 2010 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) returned the nation's newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), to the U.S. Navy following the completion of modernization and maintenance work accomplished during the ship's post shakedown availability and selected restricted availability (PSA/SRA).

The company's Shipbuilding sector in Newport News, Va., was the prime contractor for the work. A PSA/SRA is a typical availability in
the early life of a carrier that allows the Navy and Northrop Grumman team to resolve any items that came up during trials and delivery and make fleet modernization upgrades.

Work performed during the PSA/SRA included compartment reconfigurations, combat system and radar equipment upgrades, and minor repairs.

"Bush is a testament to the teamwork between the Navy and Newport News," said Mike Shawcross, vice president for Northrop Grumman
Shipbuilding's aircraft carrier construction programs. "We worked closely with one another during this availability to return the ship
with high quality and within budget. This is a proud and historic moment for our shipbuilders as our 10th and final Nimitz-class carrier joins the Navy's fleet, where she will serve for the next 50 years."

Named after America's 41st president, USS George H. W. Bush is the 10th and final Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. Its keel was laid
Sept. 6, 2003; it was christened Oct. 7, 2006; commissioned Jan. 10, 2009; and delivered May 11, 2009. At 1,092 feet in length, USS George
H. W. Bush is nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall. It weighs 97,000 tons, is powered with two nuclear reactors, and operates for more than 20 years without refueling.

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Northrop Grumman Maritime Laser Clears Design Hurdles

Northrop Grumman Maritime Laser Clears Design Hurdles
January 29, 2010

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. – The Maritime Laser Demonstration (MLD) system being developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has passed two milestone reviews by the Office of Naval Research, which point to the real potential of the MLD weapon system design.

Representatives from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army and the High
Energy Laser Joint Technology Office conducted a critical design review
and critical safety review of the MLD at the Dahlgren Naval Surface
Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Va.

"These reviews indicate that our MLD design should meet the
Navy's objectives in future demonstrations," said Steve Hixson, vice
president of Advanced Concepts – Space and Directed Energy Systems for
Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "Next we will finalize
detailed test plans and move into land-based, live fire tests."

Northrop Grumman will conduct an at-sea demonstration of this
revolutionary capability, according to Dan Wildt, vice president,
Directed Energy Systems. "We will prove that the pinpoint accuracy and
response capability of our MLD system can protect Navy ships and
personnel by keeping threats at a safe distance. We will accomplish
this while leveraging technologies with proven scalability that may
ultimately enable addressing additional threats of interest to the
Navy."

The company received a contract from the Office of Naval
Research in July 2009 to demonstrate an innovative laser weapon system
by the end of 2010 suitable for operating in a marine environment and
able to defeat small boat threats, and ultimately could be applicable
to other self-defense missions. The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity MLD contract has a ceiling value of up to $98 million and an expected overall completion date of June 2014.

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Thursday, January 28, 2010

Raytheon Reports Strong Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2009 Results; Reaffirms Outlook for Continued Growth in 2010

Raytheon Reports Strong Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2009 Results; Reaffirms Outlook for Continued Growth in 2010

WALTHAM, Mass., January 28, 2010

Highlights
Solid bookings of $7.1 billion in the quarter and $25.1 billion for the year
Delivered strong sales growth of 10 percent in the quarter and 7 percent for the year
Fourth quarter diluted earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations of $1.30, up 29 percent; full-year 2009 EPS from continuing operations of $4.89, up 24 percent
Strong operating cash flow of $1.1 billion in the quarter and $2.7 billion for the year
Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) reported fourth quarter 2009 income from continuing operations of $517 million, up 21 percent compared to $428 million in the fourth quarter 2008. EPS from continuing operations for the fourth quarter 2009 was $1.30, up 29 percent compared to $1.01 in the fourth quarter 2008. Fourth quarter 2008 income from continuing operations included a $45 million ($69 million pretax) unfavorable adjustment due to the impact of pension investment returns on existing contracts in 2008.

"Our 2009 results reflect the increasing global demand for our capabilities, as well as the Company's strong operational performance," said William H. Swanson, Raytheon's Chairman and CEO. "Looking ahead, we expect continued growth by providing our customers with innovative solutions that address their evolving needs."

Net sales in the fourth quarter 2009 were $6.7 billion, up 10 percent from $6.1 billion in the fourth quarter 2008.

Operating cash flow from continuing operations in the fourth quarter 2009 was $1,073 million compared to $444 million in the fourth quarter 2008. In the fourth quarter 2008 the Company made $660 million in discretionary cash contributions to its pension plans. The Company made $1,115 million in total cash contributions to its pension plans in full-year 2009 compared to $1,174 million in full-year 2008.

In the fourth quarter 2009 the Company repurchased 6.0 million shares of common stock for $300 million, as part of its previously announced share repurchase program. For the full-year 2009 the Company repurchased 25.8 million shares of common stock for $1.2 billion.

Full-Year Financial Results

Full-year 2009 income from continuing operations was $2.0 billion, up 16 percent compared to $1.7 billion for the full-year 2008. EPS from continuing operations for the full-year 2009 was $4.89, up 24 percent compared to $3.93 for the full-year 2008.

Net sales in 2009 were $24.9 billion, up 7 percent from $23.2 billion in 2008, with all of Raytheon's businesses contributing to the sales growth.

The Company generated strong operating cash flow for the year. Operating cash flow from continuing operations was $2.7 billion in 2009 compared to $2.0 billion in 2008. The increase in operating cash flow in 2009 was primarily due to improved performance and lower net cash tax payments. The Company paid $627 million in cash taxes in 2009 and received $419 million in tax refunds and credits, primarily related to the discretionary cash contributions that it made to its pension plans in December 2008. The Company paid $545 million in cash taxes in 2008 and received $97 million in tax refunds and credits.

The Company ended 2009 in a net cash position of $313 million ($2.6 billion in cash and cash equivalents less total debt of $2.3 billion).

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Lockheed Martin Declares First Quarter 2010 Dividend of $0.63

Lockheed Martin Declares First Quarter 2010 Dividend of $0.63

January 28, 2010 12:15:00 PM

For a complete listing of our news releases, please click here

BETHESDA, Md., -- Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a first quarter 2010 dividend of $0.63 per-share. The dividend is payable March 26, 2010 to holders of record as of the close of business on March 1, 2010.

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NNS100128-11. CNO Announces Flag Officer Assignments

NNS100128-11. CNO Announces Flag Officer Assignments
January 28, 2010
From Department of Defense

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced Jan. 28 the following assignments:

Rear Adm. (lower half) Douglass T. Biesel will be assigned as commander, Navy Region Northwest, Silverdale, Wash. Biesel is currently serving as commander, Navy Region Marianas/U.S. Pacific Command representative Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Paul J. Bushong will be assigned as commander, Navy Region Marianas/U.S. Pacific Command representative Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau/commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas. Bushong is currently serving as commander, Submarine Group 2, Groton, Conn.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Michael E. McLaughlin will be assigned as commander, Submarine Group 2, Groton, Conn. McLaughlin is currently serving as deputy director, National Military Command Center Operations Team Five J3, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.

Rear Adm. John W. Miller will be assigned as commander, Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, Fallon, Nev. Miller is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group 11, San Diego, Calif.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Frank A. Morneau will be assigned as deputy director, expeditionary warfare, N85B, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C. Morneau is currently serving as deputy director, CJ3, Multi-National Force-Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq.

Rear Adm. (lower half) David M. Thomas Jr., who has been selected for promotion to Rear Adm., will be assigned as commander, Naval Surface Force, Atlantic/deputy commander, Naval Surface Forces, Norfolk, Va. Thomas is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group 2, Norfolk, Va.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Nora W. Tyson will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group 2, Norfolk, Va. Tyson is currently serving as commander, Logistics Group, Western Pacific/commander, Task Force 73/Commander, Navy Region Singapore.

Capt. Katherine L. Gregory, who has been selected for promotion to Rear Adm. (lower half), will be assigned as commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Gregory is currently serving as chief of staff, First Naval Construction Division/Naval Construction Forces Command, Norfolk, Va.

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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

General Dynamics Reports Strong Results for Fourth Quarter, Full-Year 2009

General Dynamics Reports Strong Results for Fourth Quarter, Full-Year
2009
January 27,2010 7:33:52 AM

GENERAL DYNAMICS

- Operating margins increase in Q4 as company maintains focus on effective execution - Cash generation exceeds earnings from continuing operations
- Management provides 2010 full-year EPS guidance

FALLS CHURCH, Va., Jan 27, 2010 -- General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) today reported 2009 fourth-quarter earnings from continuing operations of $618 million, or $1.58 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared to 2008 fourth-quarter earnings from continuing operations of $630 million, or $1.62 per share fully diluted. Full-year 2009 earnings from continuing operations were $2.41 billion, or $6.20 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared to $2.48 billion and $6.22 per share, respectively, for 2008. Revenue was $7.9 billion in the fourth quarter and $32 billion for the full-year, an increase of 9.2 percent over full-year 2008.

Margins
Company-wide operating margins increased to 12 percent for the fourth
quarter of 2009, driven by improved performance at each of the company's
defense businesses. Notably, operating margins increased in Combat Systems by 160 basis points; Marine Systems and Information Systems and Technology also improved margin performance, by 50 and 80 basis points, respectively, in the quarter.

Cash
Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $1.5 billion in the fourth quarter and $2.86 billion for the full year. Free cash flow from
operations, defined as net cash provided by operating activities less
capital expenditures, was $1.36 billion in the quarter and $2.47 billion for the year. Free cash flow as a percentage of earnings from continuing operations was 103 percent for the year.

Backlog
The company's total backlog was $65.5 billion at the end of the fourth
quarter, reflecting increases in both Aerospace and Combat Systems over the end of the third quarter. In Aerospace, new-aircraft order activity
continued to be strong in the fourth quarter. Combat Systems received
significant orders in the quarter as well, including a $2.2 billion contract for a foreign military sale of light armored vehicles, and $320 million for design, engineering, modernization and enhancements of Stryker vehicles for the U.S. Army.

Funded backlog at the end of fourth-quarter 2009 was $45.9 billion. In
addition, the estimated potential contract value, representing management's estimate of the value of unfunded indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts and unexercised options, was $17.6 billion at year-end 2009. Total potential contract value, the sum of all backlog components, was $83.1 billion at the end of the year.

Net Earnings
General Dynamics' net earnings for the fourth quarter of 2009 were $614
million, compared to fourth-quarter 2008 net earnings of $612 million. Net earnings for the full year were $2.39 billion in 2009, compared to $2.46 billion in 2008.

"General Dynamics performed well in 2009," said Jay L. Johnson, president and chief executive officer. "The strength of our diverse portfolio was evident as continuing customer demand for our defense-related products balanced the impact of the global economic challenges on business aviation.
By marrying that strength with our commitment to financial performance and effective execution, the business generated strong margins and excellent cash flow in the fourth quarter and for the full year.

"Based on the company's performance in 2009 and our current understanding of the year ahead, we expect 2010 earnings to be in the range of $6.40 to $6.50 per share, fully diluted," Johnson said.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs
approximately 91,700 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about the company is available on the
Internet at www.generaldynamics.com.

Certain statements made in this press release, including any statements as to future results of operations and financial projections, may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations, estimates, understandings, projections and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict.

Therefore, actual future results and trends may differ materially from what is forecast in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors.
Additional information regarding these factors is contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, its Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made. The company does not undertake any obligation to update or publicly release any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or changes in expectations after the date of this press release.

WEBCAST INFORMATION: General Dynamics will webcast its fourth-quarter 2009 securities analyst conference call, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, January 27, 2010. The webcast will be a listen-only audio event, available at www.generaldynamics.com. An on-demand replay of the webcast will be available by 2:30 p.m. January 27 and will continue for 12 months.

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Northrop Grumman Awarded $335 Million Base Operations Contract

Northrop Grumman Awarded $335 Million Base Operations Contract
January 27, 2010

HERNDON, Va. - U.S. Air Forces in Europe has awarded the Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and Kellogg Brown & Root, Inc (KBR) 50/50 joint venture Vinnell, Brown & Root LLC (VBR) a contract to provide base operations support services for locations in Turkey and Spain.

The Turkey-Spain Base Maintenance Contract is a
fixed-price-incentive contract with cost reimbursable line items with a
potential value of $335 million over four and a half years. VBR will
provide program management, civil engineering, base services, logistics
support, air terminal and ground handling, postal services and
communications, occupational health/industrial hygiene and ambulance
services.

“VBR has a proven track record for providing world-class base
operations support services at multiple sites in Turkey supporting the
U.S. Air Force’s mission," said Jeff Prewitt, VBR program manager for
the contract. “We have been in Turkey for more than 20 years, and we’re
proud to be able to expand our services into Spain.”

“We continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our nation’s
service members at forward deployed locations around the world,” said
Bill Carty, vice president and general manager of the Systems Support
Group for Northrop Grumman's Technical Services sector. “Northrop
Grumman has the proven capability, flexibility and adaptability to meet
all challenges faced by today’s warfighter.”

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Gulf Region Remains the Nucleus of Middle East Defense Growth

Gulf Region Remains the Nucleus of Middle East Defense Growth
January 27, 2010

NEWTOWN, Conn. — Sustained by the spending habits of the Gulf nations, the Middle East represents one of the world's most robust defense markets and should remain that way in the near future.

The six countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) that make up the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will account for roughly 60 percent of all defense expenditures made in the region in 2010, according to a recent Middle East military market analysis by Forecast International. In 2010, these countries are projected to invest over $63 billion toward their armed forces and security, with two-thirds of that total contributed by Saudi Arabia alone.

FI expects that this trend will continue. Combined GCC defense spending is expected to rise in 2011 by an additional 2.5 percent. Over the next five years, the greater Middle East defense market is projected to grow by over 11 percent, reaching nearly $120 billion by 2014.

The seemingly unstoppable defense-spending binge by the Middle East and the GCC members has been fueled by their quest to close the strategic gap between themselves and regional rival Iran by acquiring superior military hardware and technologies.

"The GCC members continue to cast a wary eye across the Gulf at Iran," said FI's Middle East Defense Analyst Dan Darling. "Under the perception that Iranian hegemonic ambitions constitute their principal and most immediate strategic threat, these countries have been focusing on air, missile defense, and naval assets. By acquiring these types of platforms, the GCC members hope to offset Iran's quantitative advantage in manpower and missiles. The result of these ambitions has been an annual level of defense spending by the GCC members that is disproportionate to the relatively small size of their militaries."

Though concerns over Iran's nuclear program and aggressive posture are the major motivating factors behind the defense-spending habits of the GCC, other issues are at play. The anxieties of the GCC not only extend across the Gulf and along their borders, but are also aimed inward. Internal security remains a priority for the Gulf kingdoms, evinced foremost by Saudi Arabia's multi-billion dollar Saudi Border Guard Development Program (SBGDP). This external-internal dynamic serves as the driver of GCC defense investment. As a result, GCC defense expenditure in 2008 exceeded 5.6 percent of GDP, compared to the global average of 2.4 percent.

Defense investment in the Middle East is not confined to the GCC countries alone. Israel remains the second-largest defense spender in the region and is also the largest beneficiary of Foreign Military Financing (FMF) from the U.S. Israel is slated to receive $2.775 billion in FMF from Washington this year, all of it gratis. This money will help finance defense equipment development and purchases for the Israel Defense Forces. Major defense programs in the Israeli pipeline include the purchase of an initial batch of 25 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, as well as locally built naval corvettes and the final development and implementation of five air-defense missile-interceptor systems that constitute the bulk of the Israeli C-RAM (counter-rocket, artillery and mortar) program.

Another factor that has emerged in the Middle East defense market is Iraq, where rebuilding the Iraqi military capability remains an ongoing process. With the final removal of U.S. forces from Iraq under the Status of Forces Agreement now scheduled for December 31, 2011, the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) must continue to improve their conventional capabilities. This will involve the procurement of indirect fire, air, and air-defense assets.

However, budgetary problems may hinder Iraq’s ability to acquire certain U.S. platforms in the short term, with Baghdad forced to seek out secondary suppliers in order to make immediate purchases. Several Iraqi government-to-government purchases of U.S. equipment under the Foreign Military Sales program have been held up by Baghdad's inability to pay in full.

"Because of the need to fill out the ISF, Iraq remains an enticing market for defense suppliers," said Darling. "In the near future, the ISF will have to handle full security responsibility for its own borders, airspace, and the lone Gulf port of Umm Qasr. Though it placed $16 billion worth of FMS requests with the Pentagon in 2008, the Iraqi government is also intent on diversifying its source of supply, which will provide opportunities for other countries to play a role in equipping the new Iraqi military."

Because of the continued strength of the greater Middle East, suppliers are looking to lock down their own corners of the market. The United Kingdom is the second-largest arms provider to the region, followed closely by Russia, which has carved out a niche for itself from countries sidelined by Western suppliers. Russia's clientele includes Iran, Syria, and Yemen. Furthermore, Moscow is hoping to soon finalize a $2-$4 billion arms package with Saudi Arabia.

But the U.S. remains by far the biggest supplier to the region. From 2005 through 2008, the U.S. delivered more than half of the Middle East’s military hardware. Though the U.S. remains sensitive to the potential erosion of Israel's regional qualitative military edge, it has granted major equipment sales to Gulf nations in recent years, including advanced air defense systems and "bunker-buster" bombs to the UAE, AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters to the Saudis, and F-16s and Harpoon and Hellfire missiles to Egypt.

"The U.S. export strategy to the region is two-pronged," says Darling. "It reinforces the sense of U.S. support for its regional allies, while at the same time building a strategic firewall against the threat of Iranian regional expansion. In the process, defense trade cooperation allows the U.S. to recycle petrodollars and improve the interoperability between its armed forces and those of the Gulf nations, Egypt, Israel, and Iraq. Yet while the U.S. has a pervasive defense influence in the Middle East, the underlying regional dynamics mean that there remain healthy market shares for other suppliers."

Forecast International, Inc. (www.forecastinternational.com) is a leading provider of Market Intelligence and Analysis in the areas of aerospace, defense, power systems and military electronics. Based in Newtown, Conn., USA, Forecast International specializes in long-range industry forecasts and market assessments used by strategic planners, marketing professionals, military organizations, and governments worldwide.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Raytheon Wins $4.3 Million Contract for On-Dock Rail Nuclear Detectors

Raytheon Wins $4.3 Million Contract for On-Dock Rail Nuclear Detectors
January 26, 2010

TEWKSBURY, Mass., -- Under a $4.3 million contract from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) is developing next-generation panels that can scan rail cars to detect nuclear weapons and other materials.

The new panels are an additional configuration in Raytheon's Advanced Spectroscopic portfolio, a series of panels that can be used in various ways to screen cars, trucks, cargo containers, and now rail cars at seaports, border crossings, and airports. Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems is developing the panels for the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office within DHS. The panels will be tested this summer in Tacoma, Wash.

Ports of entry, courier facilities, airports and similar locations are now using first-generation radiation monitors to scan cargo containers that are placed on trucks. But those devices are not as effective in scanning rail cars, and they cannot distinguish between nuclear materials that pose a threat and the naturally occurring radioactive materials in fertilizer and bananas. Consequently, there can be frequent false alarms.

With the new panels, after a cargo container at a seaport has been loaded onto an 18-wheel flatbed truck or onto a rail car, the truck or car will pass between two panels that will scan it for illicit materials. It will be similar to driving a motor vehicle between two toll booths on the highway. One advantage of the new panels is that they will be taller than the existing version, so they will be able to scan the top of a rail car.

The new panels represent what is called an Advanced Spectroscopic On-Dock Rail configuration. The portfolio also includes panels that fit into a sport utility vehicle to detect nuclear materials passing on one side or the other of the SUV.

"National safety depends on our ability to design and field early-detection systems that can identify such threats as improvised nuclear devices, nuclear weapons, and devices that disperse radiological materials. So this is a high-priority program within DHS and a key component of DNDO's efforts," said Mary Petryszyn, vice president of civil security and response programs at Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems.

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NATO Representatives of Armaments Directors to Meet at BSDA-2010

NATO Representatives of Armaments Directors to Meet at BSDA-2010
Bucharest, Romania - January 26, 2010.

The organizers of the biannual Black Sea Defense & Aerospace Exhibition and Conference today announced that the NATO Representatives of National Armaments Directors will be part of the opening delegation of the exhibition.

The opening ceremony of the exhibition is scheduled for 10:00 am, April 13, 2010 at the ROMAERO Aerospace Complex in Bucharest, Romania.

“Following a meeting today with representatives of the Romanian Ministry of Defense, we are delighted to announce this very important delegation”. We are now in detailed discussions with the Romanian MoD to maximize the amount of time these important officials can spend at the exhibition, looking at new equipment & technologies and speaking with our exhibitors” commented Mr. Sebastian Tudor, the Romanian Director of the exhibition.

The Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD) is the senior NATO committee responsible for Alliance armaments co-operation, material standardization and defense procurement. It brings together the top officials responsible for defense procurement in NATO member and Partner countries to consider the political, economic and technical aspects of the development and procurement of equipment for NATO forces, with the aim of arriving at common solutions.

The officials who will be taking part within the Black Sea Defense & Aerospace exhibition in Bucharest are the representatives of the National Armaments Directors (NADREPs), which come from the permanent delegation of member countries to NATO.

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Monday, January 25, 2010

Chatham House Conference 2010 - European Defence & Security: New Challenges, New Choices.

January 25, 2010

Chatham House Conference 2010 - European Defence & Security: New Challenges, New Choices.

Northrop Grumman Highlights Maritime Security Capabilities at Pacific 2010, Sydney

Northrop Grumman Highlights Maritime Security Capabilities at Pacific 2010, Sydney
January 25, 2010

LONDON, -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is participating in the Pacific 2010 show where it will highlight its maritime security capabilities and programmes, including marine navigation and ship control technology, unmanned aircraft systems for maritime surveillance, and coastal surveillance.

Pacific 2010 International Maritime Exposition, the commercial maritime and naval defence showcase for the Asia Pacific region, will take place at the Sydney Exhibition and Convention Centre from 27-29 January 2010.

"We have strong, well-established business relationships in Australia and across the Asia Pacific region, and we have considerable capabilities to offer," said J. Nolasco DaCunha, vice president of Naval Systems International at Northrop Grumman's Naval and Marine Systems Division. "We are committed to working closely with our customers to provide long-term solutions and help enhance defence and maritime security across the region."

Among the capabilities featured on the Northrop Grumman exhibit stand will be the company's multi-role electronically scanned array (MESA) radar which is currently being integrated into Australia's Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. Northrop Grumman's airborne surveillance capability will also be highlighted with models of the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System (BAMS UAS) based on a maritime derivative of the combat-proven RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft with sensors, and Fire Scout, the Vertical Unmanned Aircraft System (VUAS) multi-role UAV on display.

"Our core competencies are strongly aligned with the current and evolving global security priorities of our customers, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance," said John Brooks, vice president of international business development for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector and president of Northrop Grumman International Inc. "Northrop Grumman provides unmatched surveillance capabilities, with clear strengths in unmanned and airborne early warning technologies. Our customers in the Pacific Rim demand the best, and it's our challenge to continue to meet and exceed their expectations."

On display also will be the company's latest generation of navigation and ship control technology from its Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine business unit.

The VisionMaster FT provides a highly integrated, fully networked suite of marine radar and electronic charting systems designed to form the backbone of the modern ship's integrated bridge. In addition to the standard suite, Northrop Grumman will feature its integrated platform management solution as part of the VisionMaster FT defence offering. The solution is similar to the system that is currently being installed on the UK Royal Navy's new Type 45 destroyers.

Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine's MK39 MOD 3A ring laser gyro inertial navigation system which provides high accuracy geographic position information and precise attitude heading data will be available for viewing. This system forms part of the suite of navigation systems and sensors being supplied currently by Northrop Grumman for the Royal Australia Navy's new Canberra-class landing helicopter dock (LHD).

Other systems that will be showcased are: the AN/SPQ-9B Surface Surveillance and Tracking Radar for the detection and tracking of very low altitude, small radar cross section, high-speed targets, the mine warfare mission system Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS), the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mission Package Integrator (MPI) programme and network-centric warfare C4I systems for the Joint Multi-mission Expeditionary Craft (JMEC), the riverine boat used for homeland security.

Northrop Grumman's capabilities in critical infrastructure, force protection and security, as well as in maritime security for military and civil applications will also be featured. Systems highlighted will be 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, which forms the basis of the Australian Border Protection Command's Australian Maritime Identification System (AMIS) integrates off-the-shelf computers, communications, and sensors with sensor processing and MDA databases to provide a flexible, standards based command and control system.

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Northrop Grumman's Defense Systems Division Achieves CMMI(R) Maturity Level 5 Rating

Northrop Grumman's Defense Systems Division Achieves CMMI(R) Maturity
Level 5 Rating
January 25, 2010

HERNDON, Va., -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Defense Systems division has received the Software Engineering Institute's (SEI) Capability Maturity Model Integration for Development (CMMI-DEV(R)) Level 5, the highest rating possible.

The CMMI for Development model is used to appraise and
recognize best practices in software engineering and systems
engineering.

Within the last three years, Northrop Grumman has achieved 10
CMMI Level 5 appraisals, more than any other any U.S. defense or
commercial company, and more than one-fifth of the 48 CMMI Level 5
appraisals reported by all North American companies. Northrop Grumman
is also the only company, worldwide, with appraisals in the three CMMI
models -- development, acquisition and service.

CMMI is an industry-recognized standard for benchmarking process
integration and improvement. The framework defines a set of objective
standards for assessing an organization's full range of engineering and
organizational processes.

The appraisal of the Defense Systems Division was conducted by
external organizations and performed in accordance with the Standard
CMMI(R) Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPISM) Class A
methodology.

"This achievement demonstrates the ongoing commitment within
Defense Systems to employ processes to achieve repeatable results on
our programs and deliver lower risk and higher performance to our
customers," said Barry Rhine, vice president and general manager
of Defense Systems for Northrop Grumman's Information Systems sector.
"By conducting external appraisals of our projects, we continually
affirm our staunch commitment to process improvement and the
integration of best practices throughout each project's lifecycle.
That's a core competency and a key discriminator for Northrop
Grumman."

"This was one of the largest appraisals I have conducted,
covering more than 10,000 employees, spanning the country, and
including 24 programs. Despite the large scope, I am extremely
impressed how Northrop Grumman plans, manages and executes programs in
a systematic manner, shares and utilizes knowledge, and delivers
products and services across the division," said Ralph Williams,
external Lead Appraiser from Cooliemon, Inc. "Senior management at this
sector understands the importance of their processes and documented
best practices and is continuously improving and leveraging Six Sigma
and CMMI initiatives to reduce rework and waste. Defense Systems should
be very proud of such a rare achievement."

The CMMI(R) standard was developed by a coalition of industry,
government and SEI to objectively assess the full range of an
organization's software and systems engineering, program management and
organizational management capabilities. There are five levels of
CMMI(R) maturity, each a layer in the foundation for ongoing process
improvement, designated by the numbers one through five with five being
the highest. High maturity levels signify lower risks to successful
program execution.

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Lockheed Martin Space Vehicle Integration Laboratory Achieves Initial Operational Capability

Lockheed Martin Space Vehicle Integration Laboratory Achieves Initial Operational Capability
January 25, 2010 7:05:00 AM

DENVER, -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) announced today that its new Space Vehicle Integration Laboratory (SVIL) has achieved initial operational capability and is supporting the company's satellite development program activity.

The SVIL is a new Lockheed Martin enterprise-wide asset established to apply innovative processes, procedures, products, and services to enable more efficient and lower risk space vehicle component and flight software integration. The laboratory leverages state-of-the-art computer hardware and software technologies to allow a more thorough understanding of how space vehicles, at various stages of their development life cycles, will eventually operate on-orbit.

"The SVIL serves to help programs significantly reduce up-front systems engineering and implementation costs by focusing on complete traceability from early requirements to implementation in a single, integrated vehicle engineering framework," said Rick Ambrose, Lockheed Martin vice president & general manager of its Surveillance and Navigation Systems line of business. "The entire SVIL team is excited to achieve operational excellence and mission success for our customers and looks forward to reaching final operational capability later this year."

Configured in a commercial-based plug-and-play architectural framework, the laboratory's ability to quickly develop, execute, and test integrated modular space vehicle component simulations allows users to rapidly simulate and test space vehicle architectures and component designs and interfaces in "flight-like" conditions long before flight qualified parts are available.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, a major operating unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation, designs, develops, tests, manufactures, and operates a full spectrum of advanced-technology systems for national security, civil, and commercial customers. Chief products include human space flight systems; a full range of remote sensing, navigation, meteorological and communications satellites and instruments; space observatories and interplanetary spacecraft; laser radar; fleet ballistic missiles; and missile defense systems.

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Northrop Grumman's Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) Successfully Demonstrated aboard U.S. Air Force F-16

Northrop Grumman's Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) Successfully
Demonstrated aboard U.S. Air Force F-16
January 25, 2010

LINTHICUM, Md. - Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), in conjunction with the U.S. Air Force, has successfully completed a series of demonstration flights of its Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) installed in an F-16 fighter aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The demonstration was in support of a U.S. Air Force F-16 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) feasibility study.

"Almost two years ago Northrop Grumman said that air forces of
the future will necessarily gravitate toward using AESA technology –
especially through scalable retrofit technology. Our team has worked
diligently to make that possible and today we've made it a reality.
This officially marks the first time a retrofit AESA has ever flown in
a legacy F-16," said Arlene Camp, director of Advanced F-16 Radar
Programs at Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector.

"This demonstration validated our goal of developing an AESA
that can be easily installed on the flight line and integrated with
existing power and cooling provisions of currently fielded F-16s," Camp
added. "With regard to installed performance, SABR's air-to-air and
air-to-ground detection and tracking and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
mapping performance met or exceeded our predictions."

SABR is an affordable and scalable AESA radar designed for
retrofit in current F-16s and other legacy fighter, attack, and
training aircraft. Compared to mechanically-scanned array radars, SABR
will provide the increased performance, multi-functionality, and
greater reliability inherent in AESA radars. In terms of combat
capability, SABR provides improved situational awareness, greater
detection, high-resolution SAR maps, interleaved air-to-air and
air-to-surface mode operations, and an all-environment precision strike
capability.

Northrop Grumman has been the sole provider of radars for the
F-16 and for over 30 years has continually improved the F-16 radar's
performance and reliability. More than 5,000 F-16 radars have been
produced for the U.S. Air Force and 24 nations worldwide.

Because of this extensive foundation and rich F-16 heritage and
platform intimacy, Northrop Grumman is the first to design, develop,
integrate, test and successfully demonstrate retrofit AESA capability
in flight on a legacy F-16. SABR is part of Northrop Grumman's robust
product family of multi-function sensors and capabilities.

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Friday, January 22, 2010

General Dynamics Awarded $118 Million by U.S. Navy for Common Missile Compartment Work

General Dynamics Awarded $118 Million by U.S. Navy for Common Missile
Compartment Work

January 22,2010 10:03:09 AM

GENERAL DYNAMICS

GROTON, Conn., -- General Dynamics Electric Boat has been awarded a $118 million contract modification by the U.S. Navy to continue concept studies, engineering and design of a Common Missile Compartment for the United Kingdom's Successor ballistic-missile submarine and the U.S. Ohio replacement submarine. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

The award modifies a $76 million contract announced in December 2008 for
engineering, technical services, concept studies and design of a Common
Missile Compartment for the next-generation ballistic missile submarines
under development for the Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy.

If all options are exercised and funded, the overall contract would have a
value of more than $600 million.

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NNS100122-03. Flag Officer Assignments

NNS100122-03. Flag Officer Assignments
January 22, 2010

From Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced Jan. 22 the following assignments:

Rear Adm. Dan W. Davenport will be assigned as chief of staff, U.S. Joint Forces Command, Norfolk. Davenport is currently serving as director for joint experimentation, J9, U.S. Joint Forces Command, Norfolk.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Robert P. Girrier will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group 11, San Diego. Girrier is currently serving as vice commander, Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command, San Diego.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Lothrop S. Little will be assigned as commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command, Norfolk. Little is currently serving as deputy commander, Joint Task Force 134, Multi-National Force - Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Michael P. Tillotson will be assigned as commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, Norfolk. Tillotson is currently serving as deputy director for operations - force protection, DJ3-FP, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

Rear Adm. (lower half) Robert P. Wright will be assigned as reserve deputy commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk. Wright is currently serving as deputy commander, 2nd Fleet, Norfolk.

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Thursday, January 21, 2010

General Dynamics to Webcast Fourth-Quarter 2009 Financial Results Conference Call

General Dynamics to Webcast Fourth-Quarter 2009 Financial Results
Conference Call
January 21, 2010 9:09:18 AM

GENERAL DYNAMICS
FALLS CHURCH, Va., Jan 21, 2010 -- General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) will webcast its fourth-quarter 2009 financial results conference call on Wednesday, January 27, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Jay L. Johnson, president and chief executive officer; Hugh Redd, senior vice president and chief financial officer; and Amy Gilliland, staff vice president for investor relations, will review financial results for the fourth quarter and full year, and will answer questions from financial
analysts.

The live webcast of the presentation will be available at
www.generaldynamics.com. A replay will be available shortly after the live
presentation.

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General Dynamics Awarded $33 Million Order by U.S. Army for Bradley Fighting Vehicle Reactive Armor

General Dynamics Awarded $33 Million Order by U.S. Army for Bradley
Fighting Vehicle Reactive Armor

January 21, 2010 11:03:20 AM

GENERAL DYNAMICS

CHARLOTTE, N.C., -- General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products has been awarded an order of approximately $33 million to produce reactive armor tile sets for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle by the U.S. Army Contracting Command in Picatinny Arsenal, N.J. Deliveries are expected to begin in June 2010. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD). Work will be performed at the General Dynamics' facility in McHenry, Miss., and deliveries are expected to be completed in November 2010. The program will be managed from General Dynamics' Burlington Technology Center in Vermont. The order is an extension of a contract awarded in 2006. A strategic partner, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Ordnance and Protection Division, will share the production workload in Haifa, Israel.

General Dynamics' reactive armor system is composed of tiles that fasten to the exterior of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, allowing it to better
withstand direct hits from a variety of anti-armor munitions.

"Our reactive armor package is a light-weight solution that can defeat full-scale, shape-charge threats of modern, long-range anti-tank missiles," said Russ Klein, vice president and general manager of weapon systems for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products. "Our team in McHenry is proud to produce reactive armor tiles that save lives and prevent severe damage to combat vehicles in Iraq."

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Lockheed Martin 4th Quarter 2009 Earnings and Year-End Results Conference Call Webcast

Lockheed Martin 4th Quarter 2009 Earnings and Year-End Results Conference Call Webcast
January 21,2010 12:03:00 PM

BETHESDA, Md., -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) will webcast live its Fourth Quarter 2009 and Year-End Conference Call on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, at 3:00 p.m. ET. Bob Stevens, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Tanner, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Jerry Kircher, Vice President, Investor Relations, will discuss fourth quarter and year-end 2009 financial results, 2010 projections, update areas of interest, and answer your questions. Fourth Quarter 2009 and Year-End results will be published before the market opens on Thursday, Jan. 28th.

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Northrop Grumman Will Enter Competition as Prime Contractor for Missile Defense Agency's Ground-based Midcourse Defense Contract

Northrop Grumman Will Enter Competition as Prime Contractor for Missile Defense Agency's Ground-based Midcourse Defense Contract
January 21, 2010

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today said it will enter the competition as a prime contractor for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Development and Sustainment contract.

The company cited its ability to leverage extensive experience and best practices from missile-related programs for the missile defense program, commenting on a draft Request for Proposals issued Jan. 19 by MDA.

"We have the core people, processes, and tools in place to deliver robust missile defenses under this contract," said John Clay, vice president of Missile Systems for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "Northrop Grumman already is well underway in bringing together the capabilities to meet GMD's development, testing, training, operations, support and sustainment challenges."

Northrop Grumman is a primary supplier of technologically advanced missile and missile defense weapon systems, including the ICBM Prime Integration Contract, MDA's Space Tracking and Surveillance Demonstration program, and the Missile Defense Integration and Operations Center, Colorado Springs, Colo.

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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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Northrop Grumman Wins Saudi Arabian National Guard Contract With a Potential Value of $550 Million

Northrop Grumman Wins Saudi Arabian National Guard Contract With a Potential Value of $550 Million

HERNDON, Va. - Jan. 20, 2010 - The U.S. Army has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a contract to continue the modernization and training of the Saudi Arabia National Guard (SANG). The contract has a potential value of $550 million.

The five-year, cost-plus-award-fee hybrid contract also contains fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price elements.

Under the terms of the contract, Northrop Grumman subsidiary Vinnell Arabia LLC will provide U.S. Army-based doctrine and military training as well as logistics and support services that will further contribute to SANG fulfilling its national defense mission with self-sustained command, control and operational capabilities. Work will be performed throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“Our U.S. Army customer not only has selected a trusted partner who will continue to provide them with seamless continuity for the SANG program, but also a partner who values a culture of performance,” said Robert S. Coffey, program general manager for Vinnell Arabia LLC. “We look forward to continuing to raise our collective bar of excellence with the SANG program, which is an essential force in the long-term defense of the Kingdom.”

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Raytheon Demonstrates Air-To-Ground Target Verification Capability At Bold Quest Exercise

Raytheon Demonstrates Air-To-Ground Target Verification Capability At Bold Quest Exercise

MCKINNEY, Texas, Jan. 20, 2010 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) recently demonstrated its proven Target Verification System (TVS) capability to provide air-to-ground combat identification for U.S. and coalition partners during Operation Bold Quest.

Preliminary Bold Quest results show Raytheon TVS performed well in the air-to-ground role and under battlefield conditions of poor weather, obscured visibility and urban environments.

Raytheon had integrated the U.S. Army's Battlefield Target Identification Device (BTID), which incorporates TVS technology, on a Shared Reconnaissance Pod that was mounted on a Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet. Multiple sorties were flown against ground targets located among numerous stationary and moving BTID-identified friendly forces.

"Raytheon's BTID was seamlessly integrated with the aircraft's target acquisition system and provided clearly defined combat ID information on the pilot's multifunction display," said Glynn Raymer, vice president, Raytheon Network Centric Systems Combat Systems. "For air-to-ground purposes, the device is configured the same as ground-to-ground applications and employs Raytheon's proven TVS technology."

Raytheon's participation in Bold Quest was funded by a $5.5 million U.S. Navy contract initiated by the Marine Corps. Military evaluation of BTID's airborne performance during the exercise is ongoing.

"The initial feedback from pilots has been extremely positive about this new and needed airborne combat ID capability. BTID has already proved highly effective in ground-to-ground applications, and Bold Quest demonstrated equal effectiveness in air-to-ground applications," said Brad Hollenberg, a senior director with NCS Combat Systems. "The technology is easy to use, designed to provide constant and independent verification of friendly forces' relative location while on ingress to intended targets. This significantly speeds up firing decisions and helps to minimize the potential for fratricide."

Raytheon's TVS is an electronic "question and answer" Ka radio technology. Highly directional, it uses low power and is encrypted for covert full-spectrum contingency operations. The technology is also designed for ease of integration with modern surveillance and targeting systems and can reliably identify equipped friendly forces in less than one second at long ranges and well within the normal target engagement cycle.

Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon, with headquarters in Waltham, MA, employs 73,000 people worldwide.

Note to Editors:
Bold Quest was sponsored by the U.S. Joint Forces Command at Camp Lejeune, N.C., in November 2009. The major field exercise involved more than 800 personnel and equipment from 10 U.S. and allied partner nations to evaluate multiple combat identification technologies.

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Lockheed Martin Achieves Key Integration Milestones on First Mobile User Objective System Satellite

Lockheed Martin Achieves Key Integration Milestones on First Mobile User Objective System Satellite

January 20, 2010 10:17:00 AM

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan 20, 2010 -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) announced today that it has successfully mated the first Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite's high-performance communications system module with the propulsion core at its facilities in Sunnyvale, Calif. Supporting ultra-high frequency (UHF) satellite communications (SATCOM), MUOS will provide assured communications, including simultaneous voice, video and data, for mobile warfighters.

The MUOS system module, developed and tested at Lockheed Martin's facilities in Newtown, Pa., includes a legacy UHF payload provided by Boeing Satellite Systems (BSS), El Segundo, Calif., that is compatible with more than 10,000 deployed UHF SATCOM terminals that will transition to MUOS as existing UHF Follow-on (UFO) satellites reach the end of their on-orbit life. It also features a Lockheed Martin-built wideband code division multiple access payload that incorporates advanced technology to provide a 16-fold increase over legacy UHF SATCOM in the number and capacity of satellite links. These technologies will support new mobile satellite terminals that are under development within the Joint Tactical Radio System.

The propulsion core contains the integrated propulsion system and serves as the structural backbone of the satellite. Developed and tested at Lockheed Martin's Mississippi Space & Technology Center, the propulsion subsystem is essential for maneuvering the MUOS satellite during transfer orbit to its final location as well as conducting on-orbit repositioning maneuvers throughout its mission life.

"The successful mate of the system module with the spacecraft's propulsion core is another major milestone for the team and a critical step forward in our objective to successfully deploy MUOS for the warfighter," said Mark Pasquale, Lockheed Martin's MUOS program manager and vice president. "We look forward to executing the critical integration and test work at hand and achieving operational excellence and mission success for our customer."

The successful mate allows the MUOS team to begin environmental testing of the fully integrated satellite. The first MUOS satellite, along with the associated ground system provided by General Dynamics C4 Systems, Scottsdale, Ariz., are scheduled for on-orbit hand-over to the Navy in 2011.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the MUOS prime contractor and system integrator. The Navy's Program Executive Office for Space Systems, Chantilly, Va., and its Communications Satellite Program Office, San Diego, Calif., are responsible for the MUOS program.

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Lockheed Martin Achieves Key Integration Milestones on First Mobile User Objective System Satellite

Lockheed Martin Achieves Key Integration Milestones on First Mobile User Objective System Satellite

January 20, 2010 10:17:00 AM

SUNNYVALE, Calif., -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) announced today that it has successfully mated the first Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite's high-performance communications system module with the propulsion core at its facilities in Sunnyvale, Calif. Supporting ultra-high frequency (UHF) satellite communications (SATCOM), MUOS will provide assured communications, including simultaneous voice, video and data, for mobile warfighters.

The MUOS system module, developed and tested at Lockheed Martin's facilities in Newtown, Pa., includes a legacy UHF payload provided by Boeing Satellite Systems (BSS), El Segundo, Calif., that is compatible with more than 10,000 deployed UHF SATCOM terminals that will transition to MUOS as existing UHF Follow-on (UFO) satellites reach the end of their on-orbit life. It also features a Lockheed Martin-built wideband code division multiple access payload that incorporates advanced technology to provide a 16-fold increase over legacy UHF SATCOM in the number and capacity of satellite links. These technologies will support new mobile satellite terminals that are under development within the Joint Tactical Radio System.

The propulsion core contains the integrated propulsion system and serves as the structural backbone of the satellite. Developed and tested at Lockheed Martin's Mississippi Space & Technology Center, the propulsion subsystem is essential for maneuvering the MUOS satellite during transfer orbit to its final location as well as conducting on-orbit repositioning maneuvers throughout its mission life.

"The successful mate of the system module with the spacecraft's propulsion core is another major milestone for the team and a critical step forward in our objective to successfully deploy MUOS for the warfighter," said Mark Pasquale, Lockheed Martin's MUOS program manager and vice president. "We look forward to executing the critical integration and test work at hand and achieving operational excellence and mission success for our customer."

The successful mate allows the MUOS team to begin environmental testing of the fully integrated satellite. The first MUOS satellite, along with the associated ground system provided by General Dynamics C4 Systems, Scottsdale, Ariz., are scheduled for on-orbit hand-over to the Navy in 2011.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the MUOS prime contractor and system integrator. The Navy's Program Executive Office for Space Systems, Chantilly, Va., and its Communications Satellite Program Office, San Diego, Calif., are responsible for the MUOS program.

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Lockheed Martin Poised to Respond to Draft RFP for Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Development and Sustainment

Lockheed Martin Poised to Respond to Draft RFP for Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Development and Sustainment

January 20, 2010 1:15:00 PM

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) announced today that it will respond to the draft request for proposals (RFP) for the Development and Sustainment Contract for the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system and associated facilities that the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) issued Jan. 19.

The scope of the GMD Development and Sustainment Contract will be to "continue development, manufacturing, test, training, operations support, and sustainment support of the GMD Element" of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), as announced by the MDA. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Ala., at Fort Greely, Alaska, at Eareckson Air Station, Alaska, at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., and at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The MDA has announced that it expects to award the contract in 2011.

"Lockheed Martin is dedicated to partnering with the MDA and GMD program office to support and extend the life of this crucial fielded weapon system," said retired Major Gen. John W. Holly, vice president, Missile Defense Systems, Lockheed Martin Space Systems. "We are committed to teaming with the best in industry to deliver consistent, performance-based outcomes across the GMD life cycle."

Lockheed Martin's credentials include more than 30 years of experience in midcourse missile defense development, production and testing, more than 50 years of experience in strategic weapon system operations and sustainment, and award-winning performance-based logistics expertise.

"Our people, processes and mission focus make Lockheed Martin uniquely qualified to meet the criteria for GMD Development and Sustainment," said Holly.

Lockheed Martin is a world leader in systems integration and the development of air and missile defense systems and technologies, including the first operational hit-to-kill missile. The company makes significant contributions to most major U.S. missile defense systems and participates in several global missile defense partnerships.

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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Key Sensor Delivered to NPOESS Preparatory Project

Key Sensor Delivered to NPOESS Preparatory Project
January 19, 2010

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. - Jan. 19, 2010 - The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) team led by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) kicked off the new year with the delivery of a critical sensor, the Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS).

NPOESS is the nation’s next-generation, low-Earth orbiting operational weather and climate monitoring system that will provide operational and long-term weather and climate data to military and civilian users around the clock for the next two decades. As part of the NPOESS system, VIIRS will provide highly detailed color imagery of clouds, vegetation, snow cover, dust storms and other environmental phenomena.

“The delivery of VIIRS enables us to move ahead on an advanced system consisting of spacecraft, sensors, and a ground segment that is already well underway,” said Dave Vandervoet, NPOESS program manager for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. “This program made terrific progress last year, and the vast majority of the development risk is behind us now. The sensor that was delivered will be integrated on to the NPOESS Preparatory Project spacecraft, which will be launched next year.”

Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTN) built the instrument under contract to NPOESS prime contractor, Northrop Grumman.

A second VIIRS flight unit scheduled for deployment on the first NPOESS spacecraft, known as C1, is maturing steadily. Component production is in progress and build up of the sensor is on-going.

NPOESS represents state-of-the-art advancements in science and technology as applied to weather, climate, and related environmental information. The system captures research and development investments that have been made by military and civilian organizations in environmental sensors and systems over the past several decades.

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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Monday, January 18, 2010

Northrop Grumman Names Bob Klein Vice President of Engineering for Battle Management and Engagement Systems Division

Northrop Grumman Names Bob Klein Vice President of Engineering for Battle Management and Engagement Systems Division
January 18, 2010

Also Named as Deputy for Engineering for Company's Aerospace Systems Sector

BETHPAGE, NY. – Jan. 18, 2010 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has named Bob Klein vice president of Engineering for the Battle Management and Engagement Systems division (BMES) of its Aerospace Systems sector and as deputy for Engineering for the company’s Aerospace Systems sector.

Klein will report to Frank Flores, sector vice president of Engineering, and Tom Vice, sector vice president of the BMES division. As BMES Engineering vice president, he will manage more than 2,500 engineers and technologists working on programs including the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, the E-8C Joint STARS, the EA-18G Growler, the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System, airborne mine countermeasures systems, and Mission Package Integration for Littoral Combat Ships. In his role as deputy for Engineering for the Aerospace Systems sector he will support management of more than 7,000 engineers for the Fire Scout, Global Hawk, F-35, B-2 and F/A-18 programs.

"Bob brings decades of aerospace engineering experience to his new roles as well as very strong program management skills, having successfully guided our airborne mine countermeasures programs from development into
production," Flores said.

For the past two years, Klein has led the company’s Maritime and Tactical Systems business area where he was responsible for four airborne mine countermeasures programs as they progressed from the laboratory through flight test, the delivery of three Littoral Combat Ship Mission Packages, and a competitive win of the Maritime Laser Demonstrator program.

From 2000-2006, Klein served as vice president of Engineering, Logistics and Technology for the Airborne Early Warning and Electronic Warfare business area, where he increased its technical staff from 1,250 to 2,100 personnel, helped it achieve CMMI Level 5 certification, implemented new engineering tools, initiated F-35 and CH-53K design
offload work packages, and implemented programs to encourage high school students to enter science and engineering.

From 1990-99, he served as chief engineer of the F-14 Tomcat program, evolving the aircraft from an air-to-air fighter to a precision-strike fighter. From 1980-89 he served as primary flight control system lead for the X-29 Forward Swept Wing Demonstrator from development through flight test; had key roles on the U.S. Marine Corps Jeff B hovercraft design, advanced aircraft simulation and classified programs; and, completed the management development program. Klein joined the company in 1974 under a Grumman Scholarship; his first assignment was on the F-14 assembly line.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering from Princeton University and a Master of Science degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also attended executive development programs at Stanford University.

Klein has been recognized with the Hammer Award from the Vice President of the United States, the Program Management Award from the Secretary of Defense, and the Top Integrated Product Team Award from the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition.

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Forecast International to Demonstrate Revolutionary New Platinum Forecast System at Singapore Air Show

Forecast International to Demonstrate Revolutionary New Platinum Forecast System at Singapore Air Show
January 18, 2010

NEWTOWN, Conn. — Forecast International, the Connecticut-based publishing company acknowledged by worldwide clientele for its development of the 10-year unit and value production forecast in the Aerospace, Defense, Electronics, and Power Systems industries, has now unveiled a revolutionary new forecasting system that is poised to become the wave of the future in market analysis and presentation.

FI will conduct a series of daily demonstrations of its new Platinum Forecast System at the Singapore Air Show over the period February 2 - 7 in the U.S. Pavilion, Stand S78. Attendees planning to be at the show are invited attend one of the demonstrations.

FI’s new Platinum Forecast System is based upon a powerful company-designed database that accepts all of the information generated by its Analysts, integrates it, and then provides through a graphical interface an instantaneous readout of the current status of any market segment. The data are presented to the client in the form of stunning graphics depicted in many variations and selections. Moreover, the user is able to employ drill-down and hover-over features to obtain expanded information and a rationale for the presentation.

"Even with the best of the present real-time systems, there is always a small delay in order to process the information and place it onto the Internet,” said Ray Peterson, Vice President, Research & Editorial Services at FI. “However, in today’s marketing environment, clients are looking for even faster response, as daily events are rapidly changing the outlook, and the associated risks are higher than ever. Platinum solves this problem, as it calculates everything instantaneously and presents up-to-the-minute data for any and all markets. To illustrate, a user in Australia will receive Forecast International’s latest findings with new graphics and downloadable spreadsheets within one minute after data inputs are made by any of FI’s Analysts."

FI’s Platinum encompasses 20 of our platform-oriented Market Intelligence Services, 54 pre-configured market segments, and is supported by another 13 services that provide additional detail on the markets specified. In addition, Platinum users are able to readily create their own market segments. Value calculations can be specified in any of seven world currencies, and the system provides many new features never before available from FI’s Market Intelligence services.

Forecast International, Inc. (www.forecastinternational.com) is a leading provider of Market Intelligence and Analysis in the areas of aerospace, defense, power systems and military electronics. Based in Newtown, Conn., USA, Forecast International specializes in long-range industry forecasts and market assessments used by strategic planners, marketing professionals, military organizations, and governments worldwide.

Daniel W. Chang Named Vice President of Maritime and Tactical Systems Programs

Daniel W. Chang Named Vice President of Maritime and Tactical Systems
Programs
January 18, 2010

BETHPAGE, NY. – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has named Daniel W. Chang vice president of Maritime and Tactical Systems programs. Chang will be responsible for leading the company’s efforts on the Littoral Combat Ship Mission Package Integration (LCS MPI) program, its Airborne Mine Counter Measures (AMCM) programs, and its maritime laser weapons programs.

Chang will report to Tom Vice, sector vice president and general manager of the company’s Aerospace Systems sector’s Battle Management and Engagement Systems Division.

“As a career Surface Warfare Officer, who understands what the warfighter needs, and very strong program manager, Dan brings a great deal of expertise to his new role in leading our maritime and tactical systems business,” said Vice. “Our warfighters demand and deserve the best we have to offer. Dan and his team will be driven to make sure that our troops succeed in their vital missions.”

Most recently, Chang served as director and deputy IPT leader to vice president James Culmo and the Airborne Early Warning/Battle Management Command and Control (AEW/BMC2) business. He was responsible for assisting in the development and implementation of the strategic vision and the successful execution of all internally and externally funded program activities.

Additionally, he was responsible for the successful daily execution of all programs managed by the AEW/BMC2 IPT. The programs included the system design and demonstration and production of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye for the United States Navy, and E-2C Hawkeye production for both U.S. Navy and international Hawkeye program customers. Prior to his role as deputy, Chang served as the director of the IPT’s program integration and systems engineering integration teams.

He joined Northrop Grumman in 2001 as a senior engineer leading the integration, test and mission planning engineering on the CVN-77 weapons systems integration program. He also served as deputy program manager for the company’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Capture Team.

Chang is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and Naval Post Graduate School, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Science as well as a Master of Science degree in Financial Management. He also completed the Harvard Business School executive education program.

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General Dynamics AMSEA Awarded $27 Million Contract by Military Sealift Command

General Dynamics AMSEA Awarded $27 Million Contract by Military Sealift Command
January 18, 2010 3:02:09 PM

QUINCY, Mass., Jan 18, 2010 -- General Dynamics American Overseas Marine (AMSEA) has been awarded a $27.2 million operations and maintenance services contract by the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC).
Through this contract, General Dynamics will provide full-service operations and maintenance for seven Navy Large, Medium-Speed, Roll-On/Roll-Off (LMSR) vessels. Services will include crewing, engineering, maintenance, procurement and provisioning.

"AMSEA has successfully operated the vessels in this program for the last five years and looks forward to continuing our superior service for our customer under this new contract," said Captain Thomas Merrell, president of General Dynamics, American Overseas Marine.

MSC's LMSR program significantly enhances the U.S. sealift capability for the new millennium. LMSRs have been the primary movers of U.S. military equipment during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Each LMSR can carry an entire U.S. Army Task Force, including 58 tanks and 48 other tracked vehicles, as well as more than 900 trucks and other wheeled vehicles. The LMSRs are each crewed by approximately 30 civilian mariners.

As a full service ship operator for more than 25 years, General Dynamics, American Overseas Marine provides complete marine operations, engineering and professional services to customers in the government and commercial sectors. The company is part of the Marine Systems group of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

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Northrop Grumman E-8C Joint STARS Battle Management Role Recognized

Northrop Grumman E-8C Joint STARS Battle Management Role Recognized
January 18, 2010

MELBOURNE, Fla. – Jan. 18, 2010 – Recent events for Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE:NOC) E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) aircraft program reinforce its contribution as the top airborne battle management platform. Joint STARS is the only platform in the U.S. defense arsenal that can provide wide area surveillance covering more than 50,000 square kilometers and detect objects moving at a wide variety of speeds.

The system’s expanded capabilities were recently demonstrated in a major coalition exercise in Korea. Its aircrews received their sixth consecutive battle management award. “These are significant examples of the system’s battle management capabilities, and illustrates its ability to adapt to the needs of the warfighter,” said Dale Burton, vice president for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Battle Management Command and Control.

The versatility of the system to support more conventional operations was demonstrated during Ulchi Freedom Guardian 09 (UFG). This annual event is the world's largest annual computerized command and control exercise. Retired Brig. Gen Barry Barksdale, Senior Air Controller for UFG, cited the Joint STARS input and crew role in success of the
battle management exercise.

“If the opposing forces moved 100 tanks out of an underground facility, it would be immediately apparent to a fighter equipped with a pod that flew overhead or perhaps just a visual pickup,” General Barksdale said. “In the simulation, only the Predator or the E-8C Joint STARS can provide this input in near-real time, and the Predator requires something to provide the cueing to narrow the look area.”

Bringing their “real world” expertise to the exercise, Barksdale noted issues the Joint STARS crew tackled “ran the gamut from the more obvious marshalling of air assets against emerging mobile forces, time-sensitive targeting, airspace deconfliction, targeting priorities, changing weather conditions, and countless others too numerous to detail.”

The recent award of the Air Force Association’s Air Battle Management Crew of the Year to a Joint STARS team brings to light some of their daily contributions. Each year, Joint STARS crews are considered against other systems for the award based on their battle management contribution to the USAF and air power. This year’s award was the sixth
in a row for a Joint STARS crew and the ninth since the award’s inception in 1998.

The 2009 winning crew from the 116th Air Control Wing was recognized for accomplishments including exposing weapon smuggling routes, providing overwatch for convoys and ground units and alerting them of insurgent advancement, relaying targets to fighters, identifying hideouts, locating individuals planting improvised explosive device and providing target information to fighter aircraft.

Joint STARS powerful radar can track enemy combatants in all weather conditions, day or night. Often referred to as “911 in the Sky,” the E-8C has the capability to correlate information from a wide variety of sensors and sources to provide unprecedented situational awareness to the combat elements on the ground.

It provides a top-down look that can track insurgents in flat areas found in Iraq, as well as looking down in the sides of mountains and into the valleys of Afghanistan. The ability to simultaneously track vehicles as well as other emerging target categories in multiple areas of interest, over large areas, makes the Joint STARS system unique
among Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance assets.

“Yet, with all of its technological capabilities, the real warfighter value comes from the onboard Air Force and Army operations and intelligence specialists providing real-time battle management support,” said Brig. Gen Tom Moore, commander of the 116th Air Control Wing at Robins AFB, Ga. “Our crews are trained to evaluate Ground Moving
Target Indicator information to identify vehicle or emerging target threats for U.S. and allied troops. They are invaluable to the entire process.”

Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for the E-8C Joint STARS development and whole-life support programs. The Joint STARS program is managed by the 751st Electronic Support Group at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. All 17 combat-configured Joint STARS aircraft are assigned to the Georgia Air National Guard’s 116th ACW, a “total-force blended wing,” comprising active-duty Air Force, Army and Air National Guard personnel.

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Northrop Grumman Appoints Sir Nigel Essenhigh as Chief Executive for Defence and Civil IT, and C4ISTAR Business in Europe

Northrop Grumman Appoints Sir Nigel Essenhigh as Chief Executive for Defence and Civil IT, and C4ISTAR Business in Europe
January 18, 2010

LONDON, Jan. 18 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has announced the appointment of Sir Nigel Essenhigh as chief executive of its Information Systems Europe business. In this new position, he will focus on the strategic direction of Northrop Grumman's activities in the defence and civil IT, C4ISTAR and counter-IED markets in the UK, mainland Europe and its export markets. Sir Nigel will continue in his role as non-executive chairman for Northrop Grumman in the UK.

As chief executive he will be responsible for helping the company's Information Systems sector in Europe achieve its business objectives including providing strategic guidance to help support current programmes, encourage growth and assist with the development of new business opportunities.

"The UK is one of our most important markets and a platform for growth into export markets around the world. We work closely with our customers across a range of important areas including unmanned ground vehicles, command and control systems, air traffic management in the UK and Norway, civil IT systems and cyber security. This appointment will help to reinforce our UK presence, enable us to interact productively with our customer base and achieve greater integration of our European business entities", said Linda Mills, president of Northrop Grumman's Information Systems sector. "We are delighted that Sir Nigel will be joining our Information Systems Europe organization as chief executive, and we look forward to the contributions he will make towards the continued success and growth of our business."

Sir Nigel served for 40-years in the Royal Navy following a varied career of which a large part was spent at sea worldwide in surface ships ranging from patrol boat to aircraft carrier. In his final naval appointments he served first as Commander-in-Chief Fleet where he also held the dual NATO appointments as Commander-in-Chief Eastern Atlantic Area and Commander Allied Naval Forces North West Europe. From there he assumed the role of professional head of the Royal Navy when he took over as First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff in 2001.

He became a consultant to Northrop Grumman in the UK in 2003 and performed several advisory roles until, in January 2009, he was appointed to the newly created position of non-executive Chairman of Northrop Grumman UK.

Northrop Grumman has a well established presence in the UK with a heritage that spans 100 years. It provides a variety of advanced technology solutions in support of programmes in the defence and security and resilience markets. 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 and naval systems, unmanned ground vehicles, C4I solutions and mission planning, aircraft whole life support, IT systems and software development.

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Raytheon Company to Release 2009 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Results on January 28, 2010

Raytheon Company to Release 2009 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Results on January 28, 2010
January 18, 2010

WALTHAM, Mass., -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) will issue its 2009 fourth quarter and full-year earnings news release at 7:00 a.m. EST Thursday, January 28, 2010. The release will be posted on the Raytheon home page.

The 2009 fourth quarter and year-end earnings results conference call will be at 9:00 a.m. EST on Thursday, January 28, 2010. The call will be audiocast on the Internet at http://www.raytheon.com/ir. Charts to be referenced during the call will be available on the website for printing prior to the call.

Participants are urged to check the website ahead of time to ensure their computers are configured for the audio stream. Instructions for obtaining the required downloadable software are posted to the site.

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£865m engine contract for RAF Typhoons

£865m engine contract for RAF Typhoons
January 18, 2010

A ten-year £865m contract has been placed with Rolls-Royce to provide the engines on the Royal Air Force's most advanced fighter jet, the Typhoon.

The Typhoon engines, the EJ200, will be maintained and supported under an arrangement that will help to sustain up to 3,000 highly-skilled jobs.

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said:

"This contract will ensure that our Typhoon aircraft continue to meet their operational commitments as a cornerstone of the UK's air defence capabilities. We are committed to building strong arrangements with UK industry, in this case to get more efficient and affordable support for our front line Typhoon fighter force.

“This is excellent news for both the MOD and UK industry, with the sustainment of some 3,000 jobs over the ten-year term of this contract.

“The Typhoon programme directly employs some 15,000 aerospace and engineering staff in some of the UK's leading companies, and many more throughout the supply chain. Today's announcement is important militarily and industrially to the UK."

The Head of the Typhoon Team, Air Vice-Marshal Chris Bushell, said:

"This is good news for us all: the EJ200 engine is demonstrating unprecedented reliability, and this support service will continue to maximise aircraft availability in the most cost-effective way. Typhoon has now been operational in the air defence role for well over two years and a multi-role capability was integrated and declared combat-ready by the RAF in July 2008.

“The signature of this partnering contract builds on this success and will underpin Typhoon's growing capability and utilisation."

Work on these engines will be based at RAF Coningsby, the Typhoon main operating base, and from later this year RAF Leuchars, the new forward operating base for the aircraft.

Some of the work will be undertaken at Rolls-Royce Ansty in Leicestershire and Rolls-Royce Filton in Bristol.

The contract will also provide support to deployed operating bases and the Falkland Islands.

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Royal Australian Navy Test-Fires Raytheon Standard Missile-2

Royal Australian Navy Test-Fires Raytheon Standard Missile-2
January 18, 2010

JERVIS BAY, Australia, -- The Royal Australian Navy fired Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Standard Missile-2 Block IIIA anti-air warfare missile during recent tests on board the HMAS Melbourne.

"With this firing, Melbourne's crew validated the work done to transition warships from SM-1 capability to SM-2," said Ron Shields, Raytheon's SM-2 program director. "This was the first time an SM-2 has been launched by any navy from an upgraded frigate, clearing the way for other fleets to make similar upgrades."

As the most widely fielded variant of SM-2, Block IIIA is deployed by the U.S. and eight allied navies. The missile is part of a long-range area air defense capability capitalizing on communication techniques, midcourse guidance, advanced signal processing and propulsion improvements. These enhancements substantially increase the intercept range to 90 nautical miles (104 statute miles) and provide high- and low-altitude intercept capability and performance against advanced anti-ship missile threats.

Three other Royal Australian Navy frigates are scheduled to be upgraded to the SM-2 configuration. The modifications, along with upgrades to the combat management systems, launchers and other systems, will improve the ships' capabilities against low-altitude and supersonic targets and provide extended area air defense protection.

"Standard Missile has been the U.S. Navy's primary surface-to-air fleet air defense weapon for more than three decades," said Shields. "This test shows the flexibility of SM-2, and why it is the global air defense missile of choice."

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