CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Litton Marine Systems (LMS), a Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) company, has been awarded a contract by Marinette Marine to supply bridge electronics equipment for three new U.S. Coast Guard Juniper-class WLB seagoing buoy tenders.

Marinette Marine, based in Marinette, Wis., is building three WLB ships -- WLB 212, WLB 213 and WLB 214 – scheduled for delivery in 2002 and 2003.

Under the terms of the contract, LMS will fit each of the three vessels with two Decca BridgeMaster E 340 X-band ARPA radars, a Sperry SRD500 dual-axis speed log and Sperry MK 27 gyrocompass. The contract includes installation, commissioning, technical support and crew training. Litton has already fitted similar equipment on 11 previous Juniper-class ships.

The 68.7-meter (225-ft.) WLB seagoing buoy tenders are designed to serve as multirole platforms. They are being introduced by the Coast Guard as replacements for the smaller Balsam-class WLB's.

Litton Marine Systems, a unit of Northrop Grumman's Electronic Sensors and Systems sector, provides smart navigation solutions for the marine industry worldwide. LMS manufactures and markets products under the Sperry Marine, Decca and C. Plath brand names. LMS provides customer service and support through offices in 19 countries and authorized service depots in more than 300 locations worldwide.

Headquartered in Baltimore, Md., Northrop Grumman Electronic Sensors and Systems is a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of defense electronics and systems including airborne radar systems, navigation systems, electronic warfare systems, precision weapons, air traffic control systems, air defense systems, communications systems, space systems, marine systems, oceanic and naval systems, logistics systems, and automation and information systems.