Northrop's RQ-4N Global Hawk UAV wins US Navy contract for maritime surveillance programme

Los Angeles: The Northrop Grumman Corp has been awarded an 89-month, $1.16 billion contract for System Development and Demonstration (SDD) of the US Navy's new Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System (BAMS UAS) programme. The award follows a decision by the US Government Accountability Office that an initial award of the contract to the corporation by the US Navy was a fair one.

The contract is aimed at supplying a new UAS to the US Navy for intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance missions.

Northrop Grumman was awarded the contract for the programme on 22 April this year.

The company's RQ-4N BAMS UAS capability employs a maritime derivative of the combat-proven RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft equipped with several sensors, including a Northrop Grumman 360-degree Multi-Function Active Sensor (MFAS) active electronically scanned array radar and Raytheon's Multi-Spectral Targeting System, which provides electro-optical and infrared capabilities. The system also includes Navy-unique mission control systems.

"We are very pleased that the GAO has upheld the Navy's source selection decision for the BAMS UAS program," said Ronald D Sugar, Northrop Grumman chairman and chief executive officer. "This reaffirms that Northrop Grumman's offering was selected as the best-value determination in a fair and open competition. We look forward to getting back to work on this critical program for our Navy customer."

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defence and technology company that supplies systems, products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide.