Photo Release -- Northrop Grumman Delivers Next Generation Automatic Test System to the U.S. Army

Published on Tuesday, 07 February 2012 08:09 Written by TradersHuddle Staff

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Feb. 7, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), together with DRS Technologies, today announced the delivery of the first Next Generation Automatic Test System (NGATS) to the U.S. Army.

Colonel William Boruff, Project Manager for Joint Combat Support Systems, congratulates Northrop Grumman and DRS senior staff, Army representatives, suppliers and employees on the first low rate initial production delivery of the company's Next Generation Automatic Test System during a ceremony held at the Northrop Grumman Rolling Meadows, Ill. facility.

A photo accompanying this release is available at http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=11580

A mobile, rapidly deployable and reconfigurable general purpose Automatic Test System suite, NGATS provides unit-level through depot-level maintenance testing and screening of complex electronic and electro-optical weapon systems. The system will initially test the electronics and weapon systems in heavy combat vehicles such as the Abrams/Bradley and will be used for Stryker depot efforts starting in 2012. In follow-on phases, NGATS will be capable of supporting the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station, Kiowa Warrior helicopters and missile launchers, as well as a variety of other existing and future weapon systems. 

Under the terms of a low rate initial production (LRIP) contract, the Northrop Grumman-led team will deliver a total of eight LRIP configuration NGATS plus spares in 2012.

"NGATS will provide the latest technology and improved weapons maintenance support to our nation's warfighters," said Kay Burch, vice president of communications, intelligence and networking solutions for Northrop Grumman's Land and Self Protection Systems Division.

NGATS is the U.S. Army's replacement for its earlier generation Integrated Family of Test Equipment (IFTE) and the Direct Support Electrical System Test Set (DSESTS) test systems. It is backwards compatible with legacy IFTE versions. Northrop Grumman received the NGATS contract to procure LRIP units in 2010 from the U.S. Army's Program Executive Office for Combat Support & Combat Service Support and in late 2011 supported Limited User Testing administered by the Army Test and Evaluation Command and conducted at Fort Stewart, Ga.

DRS Technologies and Northrop Grumman teamed over a decade ago bringing together DRS's 25 years of Direct Support Electrical System Test Set experience with Northrop Grumman's 25 years of Integrated Family of Test Equipment experience to provide the U.S. Army one combined NGATS solution.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

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