NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
Northrop company formed 1939 to produce military aircraft; activities extended to missiles, target drones, electronics, space technology, communications, support services and commercial products. Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation incorporated 6 December 1929; became major supplier of carrierborne aircraft to US Navy.
Acquisition of Grumman by Northrop completed 1 May 1994 and new corporation formed 18 May. Northrop Grumman subsequently completed acquisition of Vought Aircraft Company, with US$130 million purchase of Carlyle Group's 51 per cent interest, in August 1994. Further expansion announced on 3 January 1996, when Northrop Grumman revealed agreement to acquire the defence and electronic systems businesses of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation for US$3 billion. Finalisation of this purchase in March 1996 resulted in significant increase in products and technologies offered by Northrop Grumman. A major addition, finalised in July 1999, was that Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical at cost of approximately US$140 million. Subsequently , im early April 2001, Northrop Grumman completed acquisition of Litton Industries Inc; value of this acquisition estimated at US$5.1 billion (including US$1.3 billion net debt). Another acquisition, announced on 20 April 2001, involved purchase of Electronic and Information Systems Group of Aerojet-General Corporation for US$315 million. Further growth followed on 30 November 2001, with acquisition of Newport News Shipbuilding, manufacturer of nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers. Im first quarter of 2002, Northrop Grumman announced intention of merging with TRW Inc; deal was finalised by 1 July, when Northrop Grumman chairman Kent Kresa revealed details of US$7.8 billion purchase. TRW Systems renamed Northrop Grumman Mission Systems and TRW Space and Electronics renamed Northrop Grumman Space Technology. Workforce totalled about 39,000 in November 2000, rising to about 80,000 after purchase of Litton and further increasing to approximately 120,000 with addition of TRW. Net sales of US$17,206 million were achieved in 2002, compared with US$13,012 million in 2001 and US$7,618 million in 2000.
Collaboration with Lockheed Martin announced in September 1996 concerning development and marketing of airborne early warning and control system aircraft. Further co-operation occurred in May 1997, when Northrop Grumman joined Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter team, having previosly been associated with unsuccessful McDonnell Douglas/British Aerospace JSF submission. Closer collaboration with DASA on surveillance and reconnaissance systems to result from MoU signed on 19 April 2000. In late 2000, Northrop Grumman received a Phase I study contract from US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for the Quiet Supersonic Platform (QSP) programme, intended to develop technology required for any future long-range, supersonic, military and/or civil aircraft; follow-on contracts were awarded in 2002 for continued development.
Northrop Grumman now organised into seven operating sectors as follows:
Integrated Systems
Electronic Systems
Responsibilities include the development and production of radar and electronic systems for installation in the F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor, B-1B Lancer, AH-64D Apache Longbow, C-130 Hercules, E-3B/C Sentry and Boeing 737 AWACS and E-8C Joint STARS. Teamed with Rafael of Israel for sale and production of Litening II target-designation and navigation pod. Revenues for FY02 were US$5,339 million and workforce totalled 22,000 in December 2002.
Development, integration and manufacturing expertise also embraces military airborne, space and undersea radar, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, air defence systems, tactical communications equipment, anti-submarine warfare sensors and systems, submersibles, mine countermeasures equipment, marine systems and shipboard instrumentation. Radar systems are produced for civil air traffic control agencies in the USA, Europe, Africa, the Middle and Far East, Asia and Latin America.
Information Technology
Wholly owned subsidiary, now including much of Litton, provides technical engineering, project management and support resource services for information technology systems, plus technical and professional services in operations and maintenance.
Newport News Shipbuilding
Production and assembly of nuclear-powered submarines, warships and aircraft carriers.
Ship Systems
At Pascagoula, Mississippi.
Mission Systems
At Reston, Virginia.
Space Technology
At Redondo Beach, California.