Military

NORTHROP GRUMMAN NEWS RELEASE

Northrop Grumman to Provide Finnish Air Force F-18s with LITENING Advanced Targeting System

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., March 7, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Finnish Air Force (FiAF) has announced the selection of Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) third-generation LITENING Advanced Targeting (AT) system for its FiAF F-18 Mid-life Update 2 program.

Northrop Grumman's LITENING AT system is a self-contained, multi-sensor weapon-aiming system that enables fighter pilots to detect, acquire, auto-track and identify targets for highly accurate delivery of both conventional and precision-guided weapons. LITENING AT features advanced image processing for target identification; coordinate generation for GPS weapons; a 640 x 512 pixel forward-looking infrared sensor for effective day and night operations; a new 1,024 x 1,024 pixel charge-coupled device television sensor; a new dual waveband infrared laser designator and range finder; a laser spot tracker; an infrared laser marker; and an optional air-to-ground data link and digital video recorder.

"This win for the Northrop Grumman-led team is the latest in a growing list of international competitions in which the LITENING AT system has been selected after a comprehensive, in-depth competitive analysis that reviewed applicable targeting pods in use by the U.S. armed forces," said Mike Lennon, vice president of Targeting and Surveillance programs for Northrop Grumman's Defensive Systems Division. "LITENING AT offers advanced technology, unique features, high reliability and proven worldwide support coupled with a demonstrated ability to easily integrate emerging technologies, all at a very competitive price and delivery schedule."

To date, over 500 LITENING pods have now been ordered by the U.S. Air Force and allied nations. More than 370 of the systems have been fielded, the largest number of any advanced targeting and sensor system. LITENING AT is combat proven on AV-8B, A-10, B-52, F-15E, F-16 and F/A-18 aircraft. Together, all variants of the LITENING pod have amassed more than 600,000 flight hours, more than half of which have been logged under deployed and combat conditions.

With this contract award, the FiAF joins the U.S. Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Netherlands Air Force, and Italian and Spanish navies in expanding LITENING AT operational use by coalition forces.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $30 billion global defense and technology company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide.

CONTACT:  Jack Martin
          Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems
          (410) 765-4441
          jm.martin@ngc.com