EL SEGUNDO, Calif.,
March 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has completed and
delivered to The Boeing Company a major subassembly of the first of
12 EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft ordered by the Royal
Australian Air Force (RAAF).
Photos accompanying this release are available at:
http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=31672.
The subassembly, also known as a shipset, comprises the
Growler's center/aft fuselage section, twin vertical tails and all
associated subsystems. It is the 115th Growler shipset produced by
Northrop Grumman and the first to be produced for an international
customer.
"We are honored to celebrate this significant milestone with the
U.S. Navy and our industry partners," said RAAF Director General
Capability Planning, Air Commodore Michael Kitcher. "I am confident
that Growler will provide our air force with the most versatile and
effective airborne electronic attack platform in the world."
Including this first Growler, Northrop Grumman has delivered
shipsets for 100 Australian F/A-18 Hornet aircraft, including 24
F/A-18 Super Hornets. Northrop Grumman is Boeing's principal
subcontractor on the F/A-18 Super Hornet and its Growler
derivative.
"Production of the first international Growler shipset marks
another important milestone in Northrop Grumman's storied history
as a volume producer of advanced aircraft systems of unmatched
quality," said John Murnane, F/A-18
program manager and director, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.
"Our consistent record of on-time, on-budget performance helps give
Australia critical, new offensive
and defensive options for its air combat operations."
Northrop Grumman produced and integrated the RAAF Growler
shipset on its F/A-18 assembly line in El
Segundo, which it uses to produce major center and aft
structures for both F/A-18 and EA-18G aircraft. The company plans
to continue producing shipsets on the line at least through
August 2017.
"This significant milestone brings us one step closer to
Australia becoming the first
country besides the United States
to receive this unique airborne electronic attack capability," said
Dan Gillian, Boeing F/A-18 and
EA-18G programs vice president. "Boeing looks forward to
celebrating the rollout of the first RAAF Growler this summer."
The EA-18G Growler is a derivative of the Navy's combat-proven,
two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet. Its primary mission is to detect,
identify and disrupt enemy air defense radar and related
communication systems.
In addition to producing the Growler shipset, Northrop Grumman
produces and integrates the jet's primary electronic warfare
subsystems, and provides related software maintenance and support
services.
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.
Logo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121024/LA98563LOGO
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/northrop-grumman-delivers-centeraft-shipset-for-first-international-ea-18g-growler-300056216.html
SOURCE Northrop Grumman Corporation