Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, USA

By Mr Joe Parsley,
Vice President of India and South Asia for
Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems International

Northrop Grumman Corporation continues to lead the defense industry as a C4I systems and sensor technology provider. The Corporation recently spoke in an interview about their strengths in providing national air and ground security solutions. Mr. John Foggan, director of business development for Government Systems Division, spoke on border security, air defense and C4I capabilities that can integrate into a national crisis management center. Mr. Bob Hendrix, director and chief engineer for Surveillance Systems Division, discussed how nations seeking to modernize their airborne national surveillance capabilities can best benefit from the cost efficient 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C).

Integrating Border Security, Air Defense and C4I Capabilities for Unified Crisis Management

“In today’s Joint Operational Environment, Joint Force commanders need to synchronize air, land, and sea forces to generate decisive joint combat power. They need a Common Operational Picture and total situational awareness, for both military and civilian missions,” said John Foggan. “They need an integrated national security solution. BattleSpace Command, a set of advanced C4ISR software and visualization tools developed by Northrop Grumman, is that solution. Northrop Grumman is the world’s premier designer of network centric C4ISR centers.”

Battlespace Command provides commanders with multiple and powerful tools to communicate and manage the battlespace with its fixed and mobile operation centers; ability to communicate over combat net radios to form a tactical network; automatic GPS feeds; state-of-the-art communications encryption; advanced IP technology; and multiple map formats and operational planning tools.

“The Battlespace Command solution merges data from air, maritime, land, and space surveillance systems, providing informational superiority and total situational awareness – the key to decisive action and victory in a crisis,” said Foggan.

The Battlespace Command solution:
• Integrates data from multiple sources and intelligence tools – Radars, Video, Messaging, Tactical radios, and sensors, to provide a common operating picture fully synchronized with all echelons of command down to the foot soldier on patrol.
• Battlespace Command provides specific tools tailored for each force, order generation and deployment support, planning and evaluation tools, intelligence support, logistics support, and simulation support.
• Multiple map formats, defense condition status, mission status, and aircraft status. And, it provides for collaborative planning, and battle management and simulation.

Humanitarian assistance

Battlespace Command can also be fully integrated with national civil security and emergency management agencies to respond immediately to natural and man-made disasters. Its mobility, interoperability and scalability facilitate the well-coordinated planning and action between civilian and military organizations that is often crucial to saving lives. Battlespace Command can generate reports and briefings. It can manage requests for information, and it can enable collaborative planning between geographically dispersed users.
www.northropgrumman.com – Search “Battlespace Command”

The 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C)

A large part of the corporation’s success has been the ability to apply Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar technology across different mission areas from the surface of the ocean to outer space. “In the area of airborne surveillance, Northrop Grumman has decades of experience as the radar provider for the AWACS aircraft. We continue our tradition of excellence by now offering the Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar aboard a Boeing 737 Aircraft to give modern air forces world wide the best in airborne surveillance technology,” said Hendrix.

“The 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system is the right choice for airborne surveillance and control missions. With the Northrop Grumman Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar, the Boeing 737 AEW&C system offers exceptional performance, low life cycle costs and the technology necessary to meet current and future evolving surveillance requirements. The 737 AEW&C is the most advanced system in its class, establishing the standard for performance required by the modern air force of the 21st century,” he said.

“The MESA radar benefits customers by ultimately providing high performance AESA capabilities at low cost. The electronically steerable surveillance capabilities extend 360-degrees around the aircraft. With this capability the MESA can focus in particular areas of highest interest, while simultaneously continuing surveillance in all directions,” said Hendrix.

With high-altitude, jet speeds, and long-range endurance, customers can expect a larger surveillance volume than provided by other platforms. Modernization of air forces is guaranteed with next-generation airframe and avionics technology. The Boeing 737-700 Aircraft is equipped with a modern, two-crew glass flight deck and high-bypass CFM56-7 engines with increased IDG capability.

The modular, open system design provides for multi-mission flexibility and growth options. The MESA can conduct air to air and maritime modes simultaneously, with integrated Identification –Friend or Foe (IFF). Customers may perform passive surveillance and HF, VHF/UHF, SATCOM and data link communications with the robust communications suite that are integrated in the 737 AEW&C System.

www.northropgrumman.com – Search “AEW&C”