HERNDON, Va., Aug. 27, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony today at its new infrared countermeasures (IRCM) sustainment center in Warner Robins, Ga.
"Today's ribbon cutting is an example of our commitment to provide the warfighter with an innovative solution to sustain this critical aircraft defensive system," said Thomas E. Vice, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Technical Services. "This facility also benefits our customers by driving down the cost and providing high-quality, affordable IRCM services."
"The move from Hurlburt Field to Warner Robins was seamless to our warfighting customers and will allow for increased system availability today with growth opportunities for the future as fielding of the system continues to expand," said Carl Smith, vice president of Infrared Countermeasures programs for Northrop Grumman's Land and Self Protection Systems Division. "This latest program milestone continues the partnership between industry and government which is already in place with the U.S. Air Force. It allows us to provide the most affordable and responsive sustainment service possible to the warfighter."
The sustainment center repairs IRCM equipment for the U.S. Air Force's large aircraft infrared countermeasures and U.S. Special Operations Command's directed energy infrared countermeasures. The sustainment center repair team includes Northrop Grumman; SELEX Galileo Ltd., Edinborough, Scotland; AAR Corp, Wood Dale, Ill.; and Robins Air Force Base's Aerospace Sustainment Directorate.
"This ribbon cutting is the culmination of two years of hard work and fulfills Northrop Grumman's commitment, as part of the public-private partnership, to move its AAQ-24 sustainment depot to Warner Robins," said Larry Pittman, Northrop Grumman Technical Services program manager. "Teaming with the customer on this facility allows us to better serve our nation's warfighters with significant cost savings for our customer."
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.