CANBERRA, Australia, Nov. 11, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Australia, a fully owned Australian subsidiary of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC ), welcomes the announcement of the assignment of a significant amount of maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade (MRO&U) work for the multinational F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program to the Australian defence industry.
Under this assignment announcement, Northrop Grumman Australia and fellow team members, BAE Systems Australia, Rockwell Collins Australia, GE Aviation Systems Australia and Quickstep will provide the capabilities that underpin six of the 10 MRO&U Repair Technology Categories (RTC). These categories were assigned to Australian industry by the U.S. JSF Program Office (JPO) for the sustainment of F-35 Lightning IIs based in the Asia/Pacific region, including the 72 F-35As on order for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
“The assignment of this work to Australia is an endorsement of the health and growth of the Australian defence industry, and an acknowledgement of Northrop Grumman Australia’s continued commitment to growing its technical sustainment workforce and capabilities in country,” said Ian Irving, chief executive, Northrop Grumman Australia. “We are grateful to our industry teammates, the Australian Joint Strike Fighter Division, the Commonwealth government, and the U.S. JPO for this recognition.”
“The capabilities we bring to F-35 for Australia are reinforced by our delivery of support to the RAAF’s KC-30A Multi-Role Transport Tanker and Special Purpose Aircraft fleets, and engine sustainment work through our Northrop Grumman Integrated Defence Services operating unit. Coupled with the sustainment and modernisation solutions we will offer for other mission-critical platforms, including Triton for maritime surveillance and C-27J for battlefield airlift support, Northrop Grumman is well positioned to help continue to drive strategic value creation in the Australian defence-MRO market,” Irving concluded.
“MRO&U components are one element of Northrop Grumman F-35 global sustainment solutions,” said Steve Hogan, vice president, Global Sustainment, Northrop Grumman Technology Services. “As the U.S., partner nations such as Australia, and global customers activate their fleets, Northrop Grumman and the industry team will continue to ensure F-35 Lightning II weapon systems are available for tasking and mission training.”
Specifically, Northrop Grumman has received JPO assignment to deliver regional F-35 Component MRO&U services for both the RF Avionics (RTC B2) and for Composite Structures (RTC C), including the associated maintenance of low-observable technologies . In providing these services, Northrop Grumman will leverage its existing capabilities, as well as introduce new capabilities and technologies to the Australian defence industrial community.
Northrop Grumman Australia will continue to engage with specialist small to medium enterprises that support the Australian Defence Forces with unique capabilities. The locations where this work will be conducted, the value of the work, and the size of the workforce required are expected to be finalised in the coming months.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
Contact: Andrew McLaughlin +61 475 969 961 (mobile) andrew.mclaughlin@au.ngc.com
