MCLEAN, Va., Sept. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Air
Force and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) have completed
the third in a series of warfighter analysis workshops for the Air
Operations Center (AOC) Weapon System (WS) modernization program.
The workshops are part of the AOC WS rapid development and
prototyping process that incorporates early user feedback to help
reduce development costs and ensure operational success.
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The Defense Department considers AOCs a weapon system vital to
the national interest and the AOC WS modernization program
represents a major leap in command and control (C2) capability for
air components supporting combatant commanders throughout the
globe.
Northrop Grumman's iterative process of frequent prototyping
with operators providing direct input has been a hallmark of the
modernization effort for the Air Force's essential
operational-level C2 centers. By engaging operational warfighters
early in the acquisition life cycle, the company minimizes
development costs by validating concepts before the system is
complete.
"The warfighter has been an integral part of our AOC
modernization program," said Mike
Twyman, vice president and general manager of the Defense
Systems division of Northrop Grumman Information Systems. "Early
and continuous assessment from actual users is key to our
successful delivery of an agile, flexible C2 system to meet
evolving challenges and enable fifth-generation joint force
concepts."
During the workshops, operators exercised the dynamic targeting
and airspace management mission threads while taking advantage of
machine-to-machine automation and collaborative workflows built
into the design.
Northrop Grumman's prototype AOC system completed a system
security accreditation risk reduction event in June that
demonstrated improved cyber protection and an automated
cybersecurity tool set. The company is in the process of installing
the fourth prototype at the AOC WS integration and test laboratory,
readying the system for additional capability demonstrations and
feedback.
These activities are part of the AOC WS program's risk reduction
phase known as Pre-Engineering and Manufacturing Development
(Pre-EMD). The program is nearing completion of this phase, on
schedule and under budget. Pending Defense Department authorization
of Milestone B, the next program phase, EMD, will include
completion of detailed design, formal test and initial fielding of
the system to geographic AOCs.
In conjunction with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center,
Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., Northrop Grumman is modernizing the
AOC by developing a secure, streamlined computing environment for
legacy and future applications. The AOC WS modernization effort is
intended to decrease hardware footprint and improve system
manageability, thereby lowering total ownership costs. Objectives
include delivering a common computing environment to reduce manual
information sharing between systems and building the foundation for
future C2 needs. AOC modernization also aims to accelerate the
integration of new applications and enable flexibility to deliver
modular, mission-tailorable capabilities to warfighters.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing
innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems,
cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and
commercial customers worldwide. Please visit
www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
SOURCE Northrop Grumman Corporation