30 May 02. A team led by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC – news) has been selected by the U.S. Navy to improve tactical systems interoperability, an essential element in the communications networks of military weapon systems.

Northrop Grumman estimates that the C4I Systems Interoperability contract has an initial value of more than $6m to its Information Technology (IT) sector and has a potential value of more than $75m, if all options are exercised. The five-year program will support the Navy Center for Tactical Systems Interoperability, San Diego, Calif., and was awarded by the Navy’s Fleet Industrial Supply Center in San Diego.

“Through this contract vehicle, Northrop Grumman IT will continue to provide innovative solutions to tactical systems interoperability challenges facing the U.S. Navy, joint and allied forces,” said Mike Twyman, vice president, Communications and Information Systems Division. “We are a world leader in interoperability engineering and have more than 25 years of experience in improving interoperability for the Navy.”

Northrop Grumman IT will support certification of tactical data link systems, develop and perform configuration management of message standards, design Joint Tactical Data Information Systems networks and support tactical communications for fleet operations. Under the contract, the company will provide national expert support for interoperability issues to the Chief of Naval Operations.

Members of the Northrop Grumman IT team include Stasys Limited, Farnham, UK; ViaSat, Carlsbad, Calif.; Galaxy Scientific, Egg Harbor Township, N.J.; PESystems, Fairfax, Va.; SEMA, Paris, France; Datamat S.p.A., Rome, Italy; Gray Hawk Systems Inc., Alexandria, Va. and Anteon, Fairfax, Va. Work on the program will be performed in San Diego and Point Loma, Calif., and in Crystal City and Norfolk, Va.