Northrop Grumman Participates in Pacific 2012 International Maritime Conference in Australia

Northrop Grumman Corporation is participating in the Pacific 2012 International Maritime Conference in Sydney, Australia, where it will highlight its maritime security capabilities and programmes, including marine navigation and ship control technology, and unmanned aircraft systems for maritime and coastal surveillance.

The Pacific 2012 show is the commercial maritime and naval defence showcase for the Asia-Pacific region and will take place at the Sydney Exhibition and Convention Centre from 31 Jan. – 3 Feb. 2012.

“We have strong, well-established business relationships in Australia and across the Asia-Pacific region, and we have considerable capabilities to offer,” said David T. Perry, vice president and general manager, Northrop Grumman’s Naval and Marine Systems Division. “We are committed to working closely with our customers to provide long-term solutions and help enhance defence and maritime security across the region.”

Among the capabilities being highlighted by Northrop Grumman are the company’s multirole electronically scanned array radar which has been integrated into Australia’s Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft. Northrop Grumman’s airborne surveillance capability will also be highlighted with models on display of the MQ-4C Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System (BAMS UAS) based on a maritime derivative of the combat-proven RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft.

“Our core competencies are strongly aligned with the current and evolving global security priorities of our customers, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance,” said J.J. Quinn, vice president, unmanned systems business development, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. “Northrop Grumman provides unmatched surveillance capabilities, with clear strengths in unmanned and airborne early warning technologies. Our customers in the Pacific Rim demand the best, and it’s our priority to continue to meet and exceed their expectations.”

Highlighted also will be the company’s latest generation of marine navigation technology, the MK39 Mod 4 inertial navigation system, the AQS-24A and AN/AES-1 airborne mine-hunting systems, and the Littoral Combat Ship Mission Package Integrator programme.

The company is a world leader in the manufacturing of naval gyrocompasses and inertial navigation systems. Its latest Mod 4 version of the MK 39 inertial navigation solution provides both high accuracy geographic position information, with or without GPS, and precise attitude and heading data for fire control stabilization and weapons initialization. The MK39 Mod 4 system forms part of the suite of navigation systems and sensors being supplied currently by Northrop Grumman for the Royal Australian Navy’s new Canberra-class landing helicopter dock.

The AQS-24A airborne mine-hunting system and its predecessors have been the only operational airborne mine-hunting search systems used by the U.S. Navy for the past 27 years. The AQS-24A is a high-speed mine-hunting system that is primarily towed from the MH-53E helicopter but can be adapted to smaller aircraft.

The AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System is designed to detect, classify and localize floating and near-surface moored mines and is being integrated into the MH-60S helicopter as part of the mine countermeasures mission package on the U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.

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Naval Today Staff , January 27, 2012; Image:  ausmepa