Northrop Grumman's Joint STARS Takes to the Sky With New Engines

MELBOURNE, Fla., Dec. 14, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman's

(NYSE:NOC) E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System's (Joint

STARS) T-3 testbed aircraft successfully completed its "first flight" using new, 
upgraded Pratt & Whitney production-configured engines.

"After three years of design, production and testing, we are so pleased

to have this important capability ready for full integration into the

fleet," said Bryan Lima, Northrop Grumman program director for Joint

STARS development and modernization. "Our success is directly

attributed to our outstanding relationship with our government customer

and industry partners in providing the warfighter with this important

capability."

The new engines flown on T-3 are an upgrade to the existing commercial

engines in that they feature a newly designed pneumatic system. The

system, designed by Northrop Grumman, uses a single stage precooling

design that vastly improves reliability and the hardware's life cycle.

The new precooler allows hot, compressed air from the engines turbines

to be processed at a substantially cooler temperature and more

consistent pressure level than its predecessor. This improves the

efficiency of the Air Cycle Machines which cools the aircraft's

environmental control system, cabin, and Prime Mission Equipment, as

well as pressurizes the utility hydraulic subsystem, engine starting

capability and liquid cooling system.

The new engine on T-3 allows for an increased mission capable rate and

lowered ownership costs. The re-engining of the fleet has the potential

to provide the Joint STARS system with significant operational and

maintenance improvements.

In addition to enhancing operational performance, the new engines pay

for themselves within eight years through reduced maintenance cost and

better fuel efficiency.

Today, the Joint STARS fleet is the only all-weather, long-range,

real-time, wide area surveillance and battle management and command and

control weapons system in the world. It is flown by the 116th and 461st

Air Control Wings based on Warner Robins, Ga.

To date, Joint STARS has accumulated over 70,000 combat hours

supporting operations, including ongoing support to Operation New Dawn

over Iraq, Operation Enduring Freedom over Afghanistan and Operation

Odyssey Dawn over Libya.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics,

information systems, and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com

for more information.