Northrop Grumman Celebrates 50 Years of Infrared Countermeasures Innovation

PARIS, June 21, 2011 -

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is celebrating 50 years
of infrared countermeasures (IRCM) innovation and performance
during the 49th International Paris Air Show.

The company dates its “50 Years of IRCM” anniversary to 1961
when a team of Northrop Grumman engineers developed the first
active onboard IRCM system that defeated a Sidewinder missile. From
that time, Northrop Grumman has created a litany of IRCM
breakthroughs to include the development and introduction of
directed infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) lamp-based systems, DIRCM
laser-based systems and the Guardian™ system, specifically designed
to protect commercial aircraft.

“Northrop Grumman’s IRCM systems have been saving lives for
nearly five decades, and we are not about to stop now,” said Jeff
Palombo, sector vice president and general manager of Northrop
Grumman’s Land and Self Protection Systems Division. “To be
successful in this business, you have to listen to the customer and
understand what their requirements are. That is exactly what we
have done and what we intend to keep doing in the years ahead.”

The current, 5th generation, combat-proven system is a modular
open system architecture framework that functions automatically by
detecting a missile launch, determining if it is a threat and
activating a high-intensity laser-based countermeasures system to
track and defeat the missile.  

Today, Northrop Grumman still provides the most advanced
infrared countermeasures protection. Its systems have been
installed on over 750 aircraft representing 50 different aircraft
types, including large and small fixed-wing, rotary-wing and
tilt-wing platforms.  

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing
innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace,
electronics, information systems, and technical services to
government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit href="www.northropgrumman.com/">www.northropgrumman.com
for more information.

Katie Lamb-Heinz, Paris Air Show, +1-847-815-0755, katie.lamb at ngc.com, or Ellen Hamilton, +1-224-625-4693, ellen.hamilton at ngc.com, both of Northrop Grumman Corporation