Northrop Grumman Completes Successful Joint Strike Fighter Sensor Testing at Northern Edge 2011 Joint Exercise

PARIS, June 21, 2011 -

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has successfully
participated in the 2011 Northern Edge joint military exercise by
demonstrating key F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) sensor
capabilities in a demanding operational environment.

The AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar
and AN/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System (DAS) were mounted aboard
Northrop Grumman’s BAC1-11 test aircraft during the exercise. The
radar was tested featuring Block 3 and developmental software, and
the DAS was tested with JSF Block 2 delivery software.  

A photo accompanying this release is available at:

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media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=9868

“The rigorous testing of both sensors during this exercise
serves as a significant risk reduction step for the JSF program,”
said Commander Erik Etz, Deputy Mission Systems Integrated Product
Team lead for the JSF Program Office. “By putting our systems in
this operationally rigorous environment, we have demonstrated key
warfighting capabilities well in advance of its scheduled
operational testing.”  

Participating in the Northern Edge exercise for the second time,
the AN/APG-81 radar demonstrated robust electronic protection,
electronic attack, passive, maritime and experimental modes, and
data-linked air and surface tracks to improve legacy fighter
situational awareness. The AN/AAQ-37 DAS displayed its spherical
situational awareness and target tracking capabilities during its
operational environment debut at Northern Edge this year.
 

“The ability that DAS provides to track multiple aircraft in
every direction simultaneously is something that has never been
seen in an air combat environment before,” said Chuck Brinkman,
sector vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman’s
Targeting Systems Division.

The United States Pacific Command, the Alaskan Command and the
Joint Electromagnetic Preparedness for Advanced Combat
organizations supervised the biennial exercise, which involved over
6,000 airmen, sailors and Marines. As the United States’ largest
and most complex airborne electronic warfare environment, this
exercise encompasses mass air combat scenarios conducted across
diverse platforms to test their effectiveness within challenging
environments.

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 Yolanda Murphy, +1-321-354-3408, yolanda.murphy at ngc.com