REDONDO BEACH,
Calif., April 9,
2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Northrop Grumman
Corporation (NYSE: NOC) continued its record of shipping Advanced
Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite payload modules ahead of
schedule when the fourth arrived Feb.
11, nearly two months early, at Lockheed Martin Space
Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif., AEHF
system prime contractor.
A photo accompanying this release is available at
http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=24684
Complex phased array and nulling antennas, along with the
advanced crosslinks, will be shipped later this year to complete
payload delivery a full six months early. The payload module
contains the processing, routing and control hardware and software
that perform the satellite's communications
function.
Northrop Grumman also delivered payload modules for the
first, second and third Advanced EHF satellites ahead of schedule
in 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively. Launch for AEHF Flight 4 is
currently planned for 2017.
"Shipping the payload module in advance of the contract
delivery date meant developing novel approaches for integrating the
payload since the last delivery of an AEHF payload four years ago,"
said Stuart Linsky, vice president,
Communication Programs, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems,
Redondo Beach,
Calif.
Beginning with this shipment, he said the company
implemented a new hybrid integration approach, jointly developed
with Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force's Space and Missile
Systems Center. It allows Lockheed Martin to begin satellite bus
unit integration within the payload module while a team from
Northrop Grumman simultaneously completes the remaining payload
integration.
"We began work on the fourth payload earlier than
originally planned because Lockheed Martin shipped the bus
structure early. With the hybrid approach for integrating the
payload at our facilities and finishing at Lockheed Martin's, the
government benefits from an overall reduction in program cost and
schedule," Linsky said.
One Advanced EHF satellite will provide greater total
capacity than the entire Milstar constellation currently on orbit.
Individual user data rates will be five times improved. The higher
data rates will permit two-way, jam-resistant transmission of
tactical military communication such as real-time video,
battlefield maps and targeting data.
In addition to its critical tactical mission, Advanced EHF
also will provide the critical survivable, protected and endurable
communications to National Command Authority including Presidential
conferencing in all levels of conflict.
Advanced EHF satellite payloads contain a full range of
features that protect against a wide range of threats. These
capabilities include anti-jamming, low probability of detection and
intercept, rapid recovery during a nuclear event, the ability to
operate through scintillation, greatly reduced risk from physical
attack to ground systems, and significant protection from cyber
attack
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.
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SOURCE Northrop Grumman Corporation