SAN DIEGO. 7 July 2008. Lockheed Martin awarded Northrop Grumman Corp. won a $240 million contract to provide critical technologies for the Airborne and Maritime/Fixed Station (AMF) Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS). An initial $186.7 million subcontract was awarded focused on the software-defined radio development for AMF JTRS.

As Lockheed Martin's teammate, Northrop Grumman has the responsibility for leading the Joint Tactical Radio (JTR) integrated product team and co-development of the JTR small airborne (JTR-SA) hardware and software. The JTR is combined with the other elements in the program, including communications automation, networking, and platform solutions.

Northrop Grumman will also provide common JTR software for two JTR form factors, wideband power amplifiers, and the use of Northrop's Advanced Communications Test Center in San Diego as the integration and test site for the JTR-SA radio, waveforms and ancillaries. The development activities will take place in San Diego, and supportability studies will be conducted in Sierra Vista, Ariz.

AMF JTRS will develop a communications capability, which includes two software-defined, multifunction radio form factors for use by the U.S. Department of Defense and potential use by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. AMF JTRS will enable operations of military tactical networks, -- connecting air, land, and sea forces to communicate in a network-centric environment. The AMF system will interoperate with legacy data and voice circuits used by the U.S., allied or NATO military forces, as well as communicate with civilian first-responder voice and data systems used in disaster relief and other national emergencies.