RESTON, Va., July 21, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) Global Positioning System Next Generation Ground Control Segment (GPS OCX) team recently completed the Standard Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPI) software assessment, passing another significant milestone for the multi-billion dollar program and continuing Northrop Grumman's enterprise-wide audit successes.

GPS OCX will revolutionize the operations concept for command and control of existing GPS II and future GPS III satellites. OCX will provide new GPS mission planning, constellation management, ground antenna, monitoring station, and satellite command and control capabilities benefiting GPS users worldwide. OCX will deliver a flexible architecture scalable to new missions, cutting-edge warfighting and civil net-centric capabilities and enhanced multi-level information assurance to address the growing cyber threat. None of these new mission capabilities is achievable with the current ground control system.

The government uses SCAMPI appraisals to identify strengths and weaknesses of software, engineering and management processes and to reveal acquisition development risks for corrective action. These appraisals are frequently used as part of a process improvement program or for rating prospective prime contractors and their key subcontractors. The U.S. Air Force GPS Wing conducted a multi-week, comprehensive software appraisal, thoroughly examining more than 1,000 documents and measuring them against hundreds of criteria.

"The Northrop Grumman GPS OCX team in recent weeks has marched steadily forward in achieving major milestones under a stringent and thorough back-to-basics acquisition process established by the Air Force customer," said Steve Bergjans, GPS OCX vice president and program manager for Northrop Grumman. "The GPS appraisal team was very thorough in its approach, interviewing dozens of systems engineers, software developers, managers, and supporting members on our team."

Northrop Grumman is one of two teams currently under 18-month contracts to perform systems engineering and integration; architecture design; communications and network engineering; information assurance and security; modeling and simulation; network management; software development; support, maintenance and implementation; and test and evaluation. The Air Force is expected next year to choose one company to continue the program through development, deployment and sustainment.

Successfully completing the SCAMPI process is a shared accomplishment with contributions from the entire Northrop Grumman team, which includes Harris Corporation, Melbourne, Fla.; Integral Systems, Inc., Lanham, Md.; Infinity Systems Engineering, Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Services, Gaithersburg, Md.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a 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:  George I. Seffers
          Northrop Grumman Mission Systems
          (703) 345-8548
          george.seffers@ngc.com