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Northrop Grumman Completes DIRCM Program Development

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. - Feb. 1, 2001 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE: NOC) Electronic Sensors and Systems Sector (ES3) has announced the successful completion of all engineering and manufacturing development work associated with the AN/AAQ-24 (V) Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) system. The DIRCM system is a joint program for the U.K. Ministry of Defence and the U.S. Special Operations Command.

The DIRCM program has undergone rigorous tests and achieved multiple milestones to include waveform investigations, system integration lab testing, customer flight tests, live fire tests and functional/physical configuration audits for both the small and large versions of the system. The culmination of these events has been the formal transition from development to production and contractor logistic support.

"All hardware is now being delivered as specification compliant, 'production build standard' ", said Arnold Welch, vice president-Infrared Countermeasures Programs at the company's Defensive Systems Division in Rolling Meadows, Ill. "Much of the same hardware is being offered in the pending Large Aircraft IRCM competition for the U.S. Air Force and the follow-on derivatives are nearing maturation for future applications for U.S. and world markets."

The Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-24 (V) is the only DIRCM system in production today and is currently being installed on both U.K. and U.S. operational military aircraft. The system detects missile launches, hands off the detection and location to the tracking sensor, tracks the missile and directs a narrow-beam jamming signal at the missile to defeat the infrared threat.

"I wholeheartedly applaud the entire DIRCM team for successfully completing such a technologically complex development program," said Dr. James G. Roche, corporate vice president and president of ES3. "This accomplishment places Northrop Grumman at the forefront of protecting the men and women of the U.K. and U.S. armed forces."

Northrop Grumman ES3, headquartered in Baltimore, Md., is a world leader in the design, development, and manufacture of defense electronics and systems precision weapons, airspace management systems, space systems, marine systems, logistics systems, and automation and information systems.

LEARN MORE ABOUT US: Northrop Grumman news releases, product information, photos and video clips are available on the Internet at: http://www.northgrum.com. Information specific to the Electronic Sensors and Systems Sector is available at: http://sensor.northgrum.com

Contacts:
Katie Lamb
(847) 259-9600 Ext. 5266