Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has completed successful demonstration trials of a new, integrated multi-sensor situational awareness, surveillance and response system designed to counter pirate or terrorist attacks.

The live demonstrations were conducted by Northrop Grumman’s Sperry Marine business unit in January and February 2007 at the Virginia Advanced Shipbuilding and Carrier Integration Center (VASCIC) on the waterfront at Newport News. The event was observed by U.S. Navy and commercial maritime customers. During the trials, the system successfully detected, tracked and intercepted two surface craft under several different high- and low-speed scenarios designed to replicate potential real-world maritime threats.

The Sperry Marine ShipSentry system integrates shipboard surveillance systems, including search radars, electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) cameras, spotlights and laser target locators, with the ship’s bridge navigation and electronic charting systems. A target of interest that violates pre-established guard zones is acquired and displayed, along with automatic identification system data, on the watchstander’s screen, integrated with the ship’s installed Electronic Chart Display and Information System-Navy (ECDIS-N) and radars. The system operator can automatically slew the EO/IR and other sensors and effectors to classify, identify and engage the threat. Imagery is also recorded to facilitate training and event analysis.

The ShipSentry system is based on commercial off-the-shelf technology and leverages the Navy’s ECDIS-N and radar programs of record.

“The ShipSentry technology is designed to support standard tactics for layered defense in depth under various rules of engagement,” said Nolasco DaCunha, vice president of Sperry Marine. “The system architecture is open-ended and scalable to meet the requirements of the Navy as well as passenger and cargo ships. The fact that it was demonstrated in a land-based configuration demonstrates its applicability to shoreside applications as well.”

“We can provide radars, cameras or effectors if these devices are not already installed. If they are available, ShipSentry can make them work as a single system, controllable by one or more operators, depending on the threat level,” DaCunha added. “The demonstration trials at Newport News clearly revealed how a highly-integrated suite of sensors and software can dramatically improve situational awareness and enable faster response times to take appropriate actions in countering potential threats.”

Sperry will apply the positive feedback from customers witnessing the trial this month, while continuing development of the shipboard protection technology for both commercial and military applications, according to DaCunha.

Sperry Marine, headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., and with major engineering and support offices in New Malden, United Kingdom and Hamburg, Germany, 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 $30 billion global defense and technology company whose 122,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide.

For commercial sales inquiries, contact Northrop Grumman 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.