BUFFALO, N.Y., Sept. 24, 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has received the Software Engineering Institute's (SEI) Capability Maturity Model(R) Integration (CMMI(R)) Level 3 rating for Software Engineering at its Amherst Systems business unit.

The CMMI is a comprehensive framework for benchmarking industry's best management and engineering practices. The Level 3 capability and maturity level ratings were determined using SEI's Standard CMMI Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPI(SM)) for Class A appraisals. The basis for the appraisal was the CMMI for Software Engineering.

The appraisal resulted in the first-ever CMMI Maturity Level 3 award for the Amherst Systems business unit, which also hold ISO 9001: 2008 certification. Amherst Systems, part of Northrop Grumman's Defensive Systems Division, designs and manufactures electronic warfare simulation products and specializes in radio frequency and infrared threat simulators including the Combat Electromagnetic Environment Simulator, the Real-time Infrared Scene Simulator and the Joint Threat Emitter.

"This rating demonstrates our commitment to disciplined and mature development processes," said John Stanfill, site director for Northrop Grumman Amherst Systems. "The appraisal team's findings highlighted our use of the Integrated Enterprise Process, commitment to process improvement, commitment to customers, excellent technical capability and excellent team work as our greatest organizational strengths."

The Software Engineering Institute is a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense through the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. Its core purpose is to help others make measured improvements in their software engineering capabilities.

The CMMI(R) standard was developed by a coalition of industry, government and the Software Engineering Institute to objectively assess the full range of an organization's software and systems engineering, program management and organizational management capabilities. There are five levels of CMMI(R) maturity, each a layer in the foundation for on-going process improvement, designated by the numbers one through five with five being the highest. Higher maturity levels signify lower risks to successful program execution.

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. 

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