LINTHICUM, Md., 6 May 2008. U.S. Army leaders are asking Northrop Grumman Corp. in Linthicum, Md., to continue developing the Passive Infrared Cueing System (PICS), a ground threat warning system that can locate, cue, and classify potential threats from tank fire, rocket-propelled grenades, and anti-tank guided missiles.

"PICS is intended to alert Army commanders in a matter of milliseconds of the location of a potential ground-based threat launch to enable defensive systems to neutralize the threat," says Steve McCoy, Advanced Programs director at Northrop Grumman.

Under the contract for the second phase of the program, Northrop Grumman will demonstrate 360-degree sensor coverage while on the move at the Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Yuma, Ariz. The goal is to complete the PICS program with a Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL-6) system prototype. Northrop Grumman demonstrated a similar capability from a stationary location in a previous phase.

The contract came from the Army's Research, Development and Engineering Command Communications-Electronics Research Development and Engineering Center as part of the Intelligence and Information Warfare Directorate. The Army has the option to exercise an additional three-year contract worth $17 million to continue development.

The effort is being led by Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems sector. The company's subcontractors include Analog Digital Integrated Circuits of Orlando, Fla. For more information contact Northrop Grumman online at www.es.northropgrumman.com.