Aerospace Systems News

Rolls-Royce announces today that Andreas Schell has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rolls-Royce Power Systems (RRPS). Andreas will join Rolls-Royce later this year, reporting to Chief Executive Warren East, and take up his new position from 1 January 2017, succeeding Dr Ulrich Dohle who is retiring. Andreas has a wealth of international leadership expertise, running large complex organisations involved in high-technology engineering across a number of sectors including aerospace and automotive in Germany, the UK and US. He has experience in operational transformation programmes, strategy and the development of new business models, products and markets.

Innovative unmanned systems program moves forward to Phase II. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is developing new, advanced unmanned systems to support the Department of Defense's capability to deploy global persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and strike capabilities in a faster and more cost-effective way. The next-generation Tactical Exploited Reconnaissance Node (Tern) program is one example of several in progress focused on addressing various customer challenges. Designed to operate off small-deck U.S.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and the U.S. Navy successfully flew the unmanned MQ-8B Fire Scout simultaneously with the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter for the first time. The capability demonstrates how a mix of aircraft can increase a ship commander's intelligence-gathering capabilities aboard the Littoral Combat Ship. The flight tests took place May 12, aboard the USS Freedom (LCS 1) off the coast of San Diego. Fire Scout complements the Sea Hawk because it can fly longer to maintain constant surveillance on a target or area of interest.

Northrop Grumman received a $25.2m contract from the U.S. Navy for additional Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mission Modules. The company will deliver three mission module packages - two for surface warfare missions and one for mine countermeasures. "Northrop Grumman continues to demonstrate that, as the mission package integrator, we are delivering high quality, fully integrated mission modules," said Doug Shaffer, director of information operations and electronic attack, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. has determined to shift to a new business structure by consolidating and reorganizing its current nine business segments into just four business domains: "Energy & Environment," "Commercial Aviation & Transportation Systems," "Integrated Defense & Space Systems" and "Machinery, Equipment & Systems." The reorganization initiative is intended to leverage commonly shared customers, markets, core technologies and business strategies. The first phase, slated to take effect October 1, calls for the reorganization of operations in the four segments of Shipbuilding & Ocean Development, Power Systems, Nuclear Energy Systems and Aerospace Systems…

Northrop Grumman Corporation received a $28 million contract from the U.S. Navy for engineering and production planning services for surface warfare and mine countermeasures mission module components that will deploy from, and integrate with, the littoral combat ship (LCS). With this award, Northrop Grumman continues its role as the mission package integrator with expanding roles in systems engineering, mission module production and mission package fleet sustainment, including distance support for the currently deployed USS Freedom (LCS 1).

The U.S. Navy selects Northrop Grumman for the initial phase of the Solid State Laser Technology Maturation (SSL-TM) program. SSL-TM is a research and development project to mature solid-state, high-power laser weapon systems and components for ship defense. This selection is the first step in the development of a Prototype Laser Weapon System by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). This developmental effort will pave the way for a future Navy program that will integrate laser weapon systems on existing and future ships.

Northrop Grumman Corporation, under a US Navy contract, selects Telephonics Corp., to supply radar for Fire Scout unmanned aerial system. A US$33-million contract was awarded to provide the development, production, integration and testing of nine radar systems. The new Telephonics RDR-1700B+ radar will give the MQ-8B Fire Scout critical wide-area search and long-range imaging capability to complement the focused capabilities of its current electro-optical infrared payload. Northrop Grumman is the Navy's prime contractor for Fire Scout, the only vertical unmanned aerial system program of record. The Navy put the company under contract to assess and select a radar system that would best match the MQ-8B Fire Scout's maritime operational requirements.

Northrop Grumman, U.S. Navy, complete at-sea deck handling trials of X-47B unmanned demonstrator. The exercises aboard the USS Harry S. Truman demonstrated the ability to maneuver the tailless, strike-fighter-sized aircraft quickly and precisely on the flight deck using a wireless handheld controller. They are the latest in a series of test activities leading up to the first carrier landings of the X-47B planned for 2013. "The X-47B deck trials proved convincingly that the design…

Responsibility includes:  finance, contracts, estimating & pricing, and business management of Ingall’s Shipbuilding Division. "Tom's extensive background in finance and contract administration forms a solid foundation for this important leadership role," said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Irwin F. Edenzon. In addition to his financial responsibilities, Stiehle will also lead Ingalls' IT function, which includes the internal IT services, IT strategy development and management of the shipyard's subcontract with CSC.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) announced today that it has appointed retired U.S. Navy Capt. Robert W. "Brick" Nelson director and corporate lead executive for company business in San Diego. Nelson reports to Timothy C. Jones, vice president, aviation and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. "I am pleased to welcome Brick Nelson as our new lead executive in San Diego," said Jones. In his new role, Nelson will be Northrop Grumman's senior executive for the San Diego region, representing all business activities for the company.

ONR selects Hamilton Sundstrand for demonstration of energy-dense PEMFC based air-independent propulsion system. UTC Aerospace Systems' legacy Hamilton Sundstrand business was recently awarded a contract by the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR) to demonstrate an energy-dense air independent power system for an undersea vehicle as part of ONR's Long-Endurance Undersea Vehicle Propulsion (LEUVP) Program. UTC Aerospace Systems is a unit of United Technologies Corp. This Program will develop an energy storage system that will allow an undersea vehicle to carry out a longer mission with additional capabilities. UTC Aerospace Systems, together with UTC Power and Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.…

Tokyo, February 27, 2012 - Effective April 1, 2012, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) will establish two new companies to perform nationwide operations in engineering and control systems businesses, respectively, through integration of its group companies currently handling those businesses regionally in Japan. The two companies, both to be wholly owned by MHI, are: MHI Plant Engineering Co., Ltd. (MHIPEC), dedicated to engineering business, and MHI Control Systems, Co., Ltd. (MHICS), specializing in control systems.

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII) announced that Jim Taylor has been named corporate vice president, benefits and compensation. In this capacity he is responsible for formulating and maintaining competitive benefit and compensation programs for HII, including executive compensation, salary and wage administration, incentives, deferred compensation, health and welfare insurance and retirement benefits. He reports to Bill Ermatinger, corporate vice president and chief human resources officer.

LOS ANGELES, March 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) today announced that it has completed the previously announced spin-off of its subsidiary Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE: HII). Northrop Grumman stockholders of record at the close of business of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on March 30, 2011, received one share of HII common stock for every six shares of Northrop Grumman common stock held. Stockholders will receive cash in lieu of fractional shares of HII.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) announced that Mitchell "Mitch" B. Waldman has been named to the position of vice president, government and customer relations at its Shipbuilding sector. In his new role, Waldman is responsible for the development and management of the sector's government and customer affairs programs and is directly involved and engaged in supporting company business objectives. He will report to Mike Petters, corporate vice president and president, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding.

Northrop Grumman announced that it recently completed a series of tests of the Maritime Laser Demonstration (MLD) system, moving high-energy lasers a step closer to deployment aboard U.S. Navy ships. According to the company, shore-based tests at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) in Port Hueneme proved the MLD system's ability to track small boats at long ranges and in a marine environment. "Tracking tests were part of a larger program designed to demonstrate laser weapon system capability for fleet defense," according to Steve Hixson, vice president of Space and Directed Energy Systems for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. Managed by the Office of Naval Research (ONR)…

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) announced a decision to move its corporate office from Los Angeles to the Washington D.C. region by 2011. The company is engaged in a search to identify a specific location within the Washington, D.C. region, including the District, Maryland and Virginia. It plans to complete the search by spring 2010 and open the new corporate office by summer 2011. "As a global security company with a large customer base in the Washington, D.C. region, this move will enable us to better serve our nation and customers," said Wes Bush, chief executive officer and president. The new corporate office will include approximately 300 people.

In a move aimed at extending its claim as a single source ship's propulsion supplier, Wärtsilä Corporation and Smiths Group are in exclusive discussions regarding a possible sale by Smiths Group of John Crane-Lips to Wärtsilä. Wärtsilä and John Crane-Lips entered into a strategic alliance in October 2000 to provide total marine propulsion power systems through the Wärtsilä network. The acquisition of John Crane Lips is seen as a valued enhancement to Wärtsilä's position as a leading global ship power supplier. The acquisition would generate additional sales of more than EUR 200 million for the Marine & Licensing division of Wärtsilä. John Crane-Lips is a supplier of integrated marine propulsion systems and marine seals and bearings.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) announced several structural actions to strengthen alignment with its customers, improve the company's program performance and growth potential, and enhance its cost competitiveness. These actions, effective immediately, include streamlining its organizational structure, reducing the number of sectors from seven to five. The five sectors will be Aerospace Systems; Electronic Systems; Information Systems; Shipbuilding; and Technical Services. "These actions are critical steps in shaping our future," said Ronald D. Sugar, Northrop Grumman chairman and chief executive officer. "Key to our success is the early anticipation of changes in our markets…

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) reported that first quarter 2009 earnings from continuing operations increased 48 percent to $389 million, or $1.17 per diluted share, compared with $263 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2008. First quarter 2008 earnings were reduced by a pre-tax charge of $326 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, in the company's Shipbuilding sector. Sales for the 2009 first quarter increased 8 percent to $8.3 billion from $7.7 billion in the 2008 first quarter. First quarter 2008 sales were reduced by $134 million due to the $326 million charge in the Shipbuilding sector. In the 2009 first quarter…

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) reported that second quarter 2009 earnings from continuing operations totaled $394 million, or $1.21 per diluted share, compared with $483 million, or $1.40 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2008. Second quarter 2009 net pension adjustment (FAS/CAS) reduced earnings from continuing operations by $49 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, compared with an increase to earnings from continuing operations of $45 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2008. Second quarter 2009 earnings included a net $64 million pre-tax gain, or $0.13 per diluted share, for legal matters…

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) reported that third quarter 2009 earnings from continuing operations totaled $487 million, or $1.52 per diluted share, compared with $509 million, or $1.50 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2008. Third quarter 2009 net pension adjustment (FAS/CAS) reduced earnings from continuing operations by $47 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, compared with an increase to earnings from continuing operations of $42 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2008. Third quarter 2009 earnings included a net tax benefit of $75 million, or $0.23 per share, primarily for final settlement of the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) examination of the company's 2001, 2002 and 2003 tax returns.