Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been awarded a contract from the Brazilian Navy for the second phase of a multi-year retrofit acquisition program to upgrade the primary navigation systems on its combat ships.

The ship inertial navigation systems (SINSs) will be supplied by Northrop Grumman’s Sperry Marine business unit.

Sperry Marine will supply eight new-generation MK39 ring-laser gyro (RLG) systems plus supporting interfaces, accessories and spares. They will replace the current MK29 military gyrocompass systems on the ships. The new systems will provide high-accuracy position data and precise attitude, velocity and heading inputs for the ships’ navigation and fire-control systems.

“Sperry Marine’s MK39 provides the Brazilian Navy with the best-value solution for their SINS requirements, giving them a rugged state-of-the-art primary navigation system for their combat vessels,” said J. Nolasco DaCunha, director of Sperry Marine Systems. “The Phase II SINS program builds on Sperry Marine’s longstanding relationship with the Brazilian Navy, dating back more than 30 years.”

Sperry Marine is a world leader in RLG technology, having supplied more than 80 percent of the RLG SINS systems at sea today. The MK39 SINS has been specified by more than 28 international navies for a variety of platforms.

Sperry Marine, with worldwide headquarters in Charlottesville, Va., and major engineering and support offices in New Malden, United Kingdom and Hamburg, Germany, is part of Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector. Sperry Marine provides smart navigation and ship control solutions for the international marine industry 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.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense company headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in systems integration, defense electronics, information technology, advanced aircraft, shipbuilding and space technology. With more than 120,000 employees and operations in all 50 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.

For commercial sales inquiries, contact Sperry Marine by phone, +1 (434) 974-2656 or by e-mail, sales_commercial@sperry.ngc.com. For military sales inquiries, call +1 (434) 974-2134 or e-mail sales_military@sperry.ngc.com. Visit our Web site at www.sperrymarine.northropgrumman.com.