SAN DIEGO, 21 July 2008. U.S. Navy officials selected Northrop Grumman Corp. to develop the Next Generation Command and Control Processor (NGC2P). The one-year contract, with four additional option years, is valued at $218 million if all options are exercised. Northrop Grumman has received $3.3 million to commence work on NGC2P.

The NGC2P system is a tactical data link (TDL) communication processor that provides warfighters with critical real-time information about friendly and enemy activity during combat operations, Northrop Grumman officials say. The program will upgrade fielded systems with additional TDL capabilities. NGC2P will be installed on Navy ships and the ships of allied nations.

Delivering "the next generation of command and control data processing capabilities to Navy commanders," is part of Norhtrop Grumman's goal to "advance tactical data system capability and implementation throughout the services," says Roger Fujii, vice president and general manager of the Network Communications Division for Northrop Grumman's Mission Systems sector.

The contract was awarded by the Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command on behalf of its organizational partner, the Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I). Under the contract, Northrop Grumman will develop, assemble, test, integrate, and deliver the NGC2P systems, including all hardware, software, and firmware. The company will also provide engineering and logistics services in support of the systems.