Northrop Grumman has submitted its proposal for the Nato alliance ground surveillance (AGS) system, the alliance’s top acquisition programme.
Nato is acquiring the AGS system that will enable the Alliance to perform persistent surveillance over wide areas from high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air platforms in all climatic conditions.
The system uses advanced radar sensors to continuously detect and track moving objects throughout the observed areas while sending radar imagery of areas and stationary objects to the ground commanders.
Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems Battle Management and Engagement Systems vice-president Pat McMahon said Northrop was leading a team involving more than 25 companies from the 15 nations.
The Nato AGS proposal comprises mobile and transportable ground stations, an air segment based on the RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft as well as a mission operation support centre at the main operating base in Sigonella, Italy.
Equipped with Northrop’s multiplatform radar technology insertion programme ground surveillance radar sensor, the Nato AGS provides a network-enabled approach to support interoperability with national systems and to perform a wide range of Nato missions.
The Northrop-led industrial team for the Nato AGS programme includes EADS, Selex Galileo, General Dynamics Canada and Kongsberg.
Nato is expected to award the contract to the successful bidder in October 2010.
