Northrop Grumman to Expand Unmanned Systems Center Facility in Jackson County for Manufacture of Subassemblies for the Global Hawk Unmanned Air Vehicle.

Originally slated to occupy 39,000 square feet and employ approximately 40 people to produce the U.S. Navy and Army RQ-8B Fire Scout UAV, the facility will now occupy approximately 105,000 square feet and provide up to 160 high-technology manufacturing jobs. Integrated Systems is the prime contractor for both Fire Scout and Global Hawk.

“Throughout its history, the unmanned air vehicle has been an extremely cost-effective means for our military customer to execute certain operational missions,” said Christopher Hernandez, sector vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's unmanned systems business. “Expanding operations at this manufacturing center in Moss Point enables Northrop Grumman to directly respond to our customers' desire to manage UAV costs and provide the best value solution for their acquisition dollar.”

"This means morehhigh-tech jobs for Mississippians," Senator Lott said. "Global Hawk is an outstanding UAV that continues to prove its unmatched military value in Iraq and Afghanistan. I'm pleased that Northrop Grumman continues to increase its presence in Mississippi. Jackson County is quickly emerging as the UAV center of excellence for the military and our nation."

In addition to being an ideal location for building, testing and flying UAVs, the Trent Lott International Airport location allows Northrop Grumman to expand opportunities for a local, well-trained workforce and leverage resources and systems-engineering skills at the company's shipbuilding operations in nearby Pascagoula, Miss.

"Jackson County is pleased to have partnered with Northrop Grumman in the expansion of the company's capability and capacity to now produce the Global Hawk as well as Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle," said George Freeland, executive director of the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation. "The company's decision to increase its investment in the Jackson County Unmanned Systems Center is a positive reflection on our community and on the effectiveness of Jackson County's united efforts to attract new investments. With these expanded facilities, Jackson County will assert itself as the home of the world's leaders in both the building of ships and the production of unmanned aircraft and technology," he said.

Integrated Systems is the fourth Northrop Grumman organization to locate in Jackson County. Northrop Grumman's shipbuilding operations have been in Pascagoula since 1938. The company's Electronic Systems and Information Technology sectors also have facilities and employees in Jackson County.

“This announcement is certainly more great news for Jackson County, as we work toward a more diversified economy for our people," said Jackson County Board of Supervisors President Manly Barton. "Jackson County government has traditionally provided leadership for economic growth and diversification and we will sustain the highest level of support for all our industrial and business neighbors as they strive to compete in the global economy. It is a joy to welcome the Global Hawk component to our Moss Point facility. The Jackson County Economic Development Foundation and its partners are to be commended for their efforts in helping make this happen.”

Jerry St. Pe’, Chairman of the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation, Inc. said, “Today’s announcement further validates the effectiveness of the Public Private partnership that today is the foundation of our county’s economic development program. Throughout the negotiations with Northrop Grumman beginning with the Fire Scout program and continuing in recent months toward finalizing the project for Global Hawk members of the Jackson County Board of Supervisors, Jackson County Port Authority, Jackson County Economic Development Foundation and city officials of Moss Point worked together with a common goal of securing this important economic development project. It has been this style of cooperation that has produced past economic development successes for our county and will most certainly create other opportunities in the future. ”

Northrop Grumman will continue to perform Global Hawk final assembly and flight-testing at facilities in Palmdale and at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Employees currently supporting Global Hawk subassembly in Palmdale will be assigned to other Northrop Grumman programs located at the same facility.

“The Jackson County Port Authority is dedicated to furthering the economic development of this community and, as such, are pleased have supported this project that will positively impact the economy of Jackson County”, said Port Director Mark McAndrews.

Northrop Grumman is the industry leader in the development and production of UAV systems. Integrated Systems performs research, design, development and engineering for its unmanned systems in San Diego. Development and production of UAV payload and navigation systems is led by the corporation's Electronic Systems sector based in Baltimore, Md.

The RQ-8B Fire Scout is a vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle based on the Schweizer 333 commercial helicopter. The Fire Scout system will provide surveillance, reconnaissance, communications relay, precision targeting and weapons delivery to support tactical military operations from ships at sea and unimproved landing areas for the Navy and as the Class IV unmanned aerial vehicle for the U.S. Army's Future Combat System. Both versions will be produced in Moss Point.

The RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high altitude, long endurance reconnaissance system that provides near-real-time imagery of the earth's surface to battlespace commanders at sea and on the ground. The system has logged more than 6,000 flight hours with nearly half accumulated during combat operations supporting the Global War on Terrorism.

Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems is a premier aerospace and defense systems integration organization. Headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., it designs, develops, produces and supports network-enabled integrated systems and subsystems optimized for use in networks. For its government and civil customers worldwide, Integrated Systems delivers best-value solutions, products and services that support military and homeland defense missions in the areas of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; space access; battle management command and control; and integrated strike warfare.

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