ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Feb. 24, 2011 -- The U.S. Army has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a $50 million contract authorizing low rate initial production (LRIP) of the Army's replacement for its current Integrated Family of Test Equipment (IFTE) and other Army off-platform testers.

The Next Generation Automatic Test Station (NGATS) is a mobile, rapidly deployable and reconfigurable general purpose Automatic Test System suite which provides unit through depot-level maintenance testing and screening of complex electronic and electro-optical weapon systems. From factory to field, NGATS ensures combat readiness and availability.

Under the terms of the contract with the U.S. Army's Program Executive Office for Combat Support & Combat Service Support, Northrop Grumman will deliver eight LRIP configuration NGATS plus spares over a five-month period beginning in July 2011, with an option for additional stations.

NGATS is backwards compatible with legacy Northrop Grumman-supplied Integrated Family of Test Equipment (IFTE) versions. The IFTE concept of mobility and deployability was effectively demonstrated in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"Low rate initial production of NGATS brings us one step closer to delivering a single system to our warfighting customers that can test all legacy, current and future weapon and vehicle systems at field, sustainment and depot work levels," said John Jadik, vice president of weapons and sensors for Northrop Grumman's Land and Self Protection Systems Division. "NGATS allows for the efficient and cost effective replacement of legacy automatic test equipment."

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information. 

  CONTACT: Ellen Hamilton
         Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems
         (224) 625-4693
         (847) 815-0753 (mobile)
         ellen.hamilton@ngc.com