LONDON, May 6 /PRNewswire/ --
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) announced that it has been
selected by the NATO C3 Agency (NC3A) to provide hardware and software
support services for the roll-out of the Maritime Command and Control
Information System (MCCIS) across NATO countries.
The MCCIS merges information gathered from satellites, wide area
networks, computerized tactical data processors and machine-readable messages
to create a common operating environment for maritime and other assets. It is
integrated by NATO support staff and includes commercial-off-the-shelf
products together with NATO-developed applications. The MCCIS is installed in
every NATO maritime headquarters, which includes more than 300 workstations.
"This programme will strengthen our footprint and allow us to deliver C2
capability into every NATO country," said Paul Davison, managing director and
vice-president of Northrop Grumman Mission Systems Europe. "The decision by
NATO demonstrates its continued confidence in our European team."
Under the new MCCIS proliferation contract, Northrop Grumman Mission
Systems Europe will survey and manage the procurement, installation and
activation of the new equipment baseline for the MCCIS to 47 NATO and other
nation sites. The contract, which forms part of the MCCIS stabilisation
programme, will provide equipment for development, reference, support and
operational use and will include Northrop Grumman's advanced data link
simulation capabilities.
Hewlett-Packard as principal subcontractor will provide the information
technology equipment required to implement the new services in 21 countries.
"This programme is an essential requirement for future NATO
interoperability, and I am sure the good working relationship that has
developed over the existing programme will ensure Northrop Grumman's
successful delivery of the MCCIS proliferation contract," said Amaury
Aubree-Dauchez, NC3A principal project manager.
The MCCIS stabilisation programme is part of the Bi-Strategic Command
Automated Information System (Bi-SC AIS) portfolio, one of the largest NATO
common-funded programmes resulting from the 1999 Washington summit and
re-enforced by the Prague summit in 2002. It includes more than 100
projects funded by a dozen capability packages, implemented by several host
nations and helps establish the foundation of the NATO Automated Information
System.
Northrop Grumman Mission Systems Europe has provided its Interoperable
C4I Services software and other related products to NATO and participating
nations as the core components of the MCCIS system since 1997. C4I and Link
capability provided under the MCCIS contract is a core capability of Northrop
Grumman and is also supplied into other systems in the UK, USA and more than
40 nations worldwide.
In 2006 it expanded its role with NATO to take in-house the NATO
developed software and stabilize it to provide the foundation of the MCCIS
stabilisation programme. The software delivered under this existing contract
will provide the system capabilities for the new equipment baseline.
The NATO C3 Agency helps the alliance focus its common-funded programmes,
together with nationally funded initiatives, into a common coalition-based
force. As NATO's designated C3 architect, NC3A works closely with national
agencies and industry to ensure that the alliance gains maximum synergy from
this process. The end goal is to deliver those viable forces that Allied
Command Operations needs to execute the missions and tasks given to it by the
North Atlantic Council.
In Europe, Northrop Grumman operates from locations in France, Germany,
Italy and Norway, providing navigation, air traffic control and postal
automation systems. In the UK, Northrop Grumman operates from primary
locations in London, Fareham, Chester, Coventry, New Malden, Peterborough,
RAF Waddington and Solihull and provides avionics, communications, electronic
warfare systems, marine navigation systems, robotics, C4ISR solutions and
mission planning, aircraft whole life support, IT systems and software
development.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defence and technology company
whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions
in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to
government and commercial customers worldwide.
Web site: http://www.northropgrumman.com
Northrop Grumman Corporation
