- Team provides UK Ministry of Defence with
comprehensive, affordable solution to upgrade requirement
LONDON, May 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Northrop Grumman
Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has designed, developed, integrated and
fielded a Mode S upgrade to the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF)
interrogator for the Sentry E-3D Airborne Warning and Control
System (AWACS) fleet based at Royal Air Force Waddington.
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The IFF interrogator is a sophisticated airborne defence system
that provides a long-range, rapid early warning and detection
capability, allowing discrimination between friendly and hostile
aircraft. The Mode S system enables the aircraft to be used in
controlled airspace.
The work was performed at Royal Air Force Waddington under
Northrop Grumman's existing Sentry E-3D Whole Life Support
Programme (WLSP), and is the most complex of a series of
modifications the company has carried out to date for the Sentry
aircraft fleet.
"This innovative system upgrade has eliminated the need for
complete mission computer replacement, thereby providing the
Ministry of Defence with a comprehensive, affordable solution to
the Civil Aviation Authority's upgrade requirement," said
John Parker, director, weapon system
sustainment and modernisation, Northrop Grumman Technical Services.
"The new, open architecture system also provides a foundation for
future incremental hardware and software upgrades to support
sustainment of the Sentry E-3D."
"Northrop Grumman partnered with the Sentry Project Team to
develop and integrate this complex, critical capability," said
Group Capt. Adam Northcote-Wright,
Air ISTAR delivery manager, Defence Equipment and Support. "This
combined effort delivered a cost effective Mode S solution that has
achieved full operational capability across the U.K. Sentry E-3D
fleet."
Northrop Grumman delivers the WLSP for the Sentry E-3D AWACS
fleet and is on contract until 2025. The company is the design
organisation, providing long term U.K.-based technical support to
the programme. Working in partnership with the Air ISTAR Programme
Team, Northrop Grumman provides a wide range of through-life
services needed to support the Sentry E-3D AWACS aircraft. Northrop
Grumman also provides the radar and in-service support for the
radar. Members of Northrop Grumman's Joint Sentry Support Team
include BAE Systems and AAR.
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.