Kuwait's Coast Guard will improve its search and rescue and law enforcement capabilities through a contract awarded to Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE: NOC) Sperry Marine business unit to supply navigation and surveillance systems for 10 new patrol boats.

Sperry Marine will provide a complete integrated bridge system, including dual interswitched BridgeMaster E Tactical naval radars interfaced with an AMIRIS stabilized infrared night vision surveillance system, Voyage Management System, fiber-optic gyrocompass, adaptive self-tuning autopilot, Doppler speed log and other components. The contract includes supervision of installation, commissioning and acceptance trials.

The contract was awarded by Ocea S.A., the prime contractor, which is building the 10 vessels for the Kuwait Coast Guard at its shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

The new 35-m aluminum fast patrol boats are scheduled for delivery between 2003 and 2005.

Sperry Marine, with worldwide headquarters in Charlottesville, Va., is part of Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector. The business unit provides smart navigation and ship control solutions for the international marine industry under the Sperry Marine, Decca and C. Plath brand names, with customer service and support through offices in 16 countries, sales representatives in 47 countries, and authorized service depots in more than 250 locations worldwide.

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