Northrop Grumman Makes Early Delivery of Mine Detection System

Northrop Grumman Makes Early Delivery of Mine Detection System
January 11, 2010

BETHPAGE, N.Y. – Jan. 11, 2010 – Northrop Grumman Corporation
(NYSE:NOC) delivered the first Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Phase
2 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) to the U.S. Navy more
than six weeks ahead of schedule.

Mounted on a helicopter, ALMDS rapidly detects and locates
surface and near-surface moored mines so they can be neutralized before
they can damage U.S. and allied military and commercial ships.

Northrop Grumman is delivering three ALMDS systems under the
LRIP Phase 2 contract awarded in March 2008. The first system, accepted
by the Navy on Dec. 16, 2009, had been scheduled for delivery on Jan.
31, 2010. The Navy already has two ALMDS systems produced under LRIP
Phase 1.

"Mines are an inexpensive threat, deployable by terrorists and
rogue states, to international shipping and access assurance by our
military vessels. Both our customer and industry team saw the need to
counter that threat as rapidly as possible," said Bob Klein, vice
president, Northrop Grumman Maritime and Tactical Systems. "Mines are
also a threat to the sailors who must neutralize them. Northrop
Grumman's ALMDS, particularly when coupled with our mine clearance
system, will not only address the threat but keep the sailor out of the
minefield."

ALMDS, mounted on the port side of an MH-60 helicopter, uses
pulsed laser light and streak tube receivers housed in an external
equipment pod to image the entire near-surface volume area of the sea
in 3-D. The ALMDS is capable of day or night operations.

Eventually, ALMDS will be coupled with Northrop Grumman's Rapid
Airborne Mine Clearance System (RAMICS), which is in development.
RAMICS will take the mine location information from ALMDS, relocate and
then neutralize the mine with its 30 mm gun. It also operates from a
helicopter.

Northrop Grumman, which developed and produces the ALMDS at its
Melbourne, Fla., facility, was able to make the early deliveries with
the teamwork of the government PEO Littoral & Mine Warfare (PMS 495
Mine Warfare Program Office); the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama
City, Fla.; the Defense Contracting Management Activity, Melbourne,
Fla.; and, its subcontractor teammates, including: Arete Associates,
Tucson, Ariz. which manufactures the Receiver Sensor Assembly; Cutting
Edge Optronics (CEO), a Northrop Grumman subsidiary in St. Charles,
Mo., which manufactures the high-powered laser transmitter; CPI Aero,
Edgewood, N.Y., manufacturer of the pod housing; Curtiss Wright/DY4,
San Diego, manufacturer of the central electronics chassis; Meggitt
Defense Systems, Irvine, Calif., which produces the environmental
control system.

Northrop Grumman's Melbourne facility is the company's Center
of Excellence for Airborne Mine Countermeasures and is currently under
contract for the development or manufacture of the Department of
Defense's four Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) sensor programs.

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