MELBOURNE, Florida – According to the Economic Development
Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, Northrop Grumman intends to expand its presence on the
Space Coast and add more than 900 jobs, including hundreds of
engineering
positions.
Northrop Grumman Corporation announced on Monday it is designating five centers of design and
integration excellence in support of its Aerospace Systems sector's
manned aircraft, unmanned systems and electronic attack businesses.
"Consolidating these centers of excellence will improve our
strategic alignment with our customers' need for increasingly innovative
and affordable products, services and solutions," said Wes Bush,
chairman, chief executive officer and president of Northrop Grumman. "We
continuously examine our operational capacity to determine how we can
leverage it in the most efficient and cost-competitive manner. Given the
current budget environment, it is imperative that we act to enhance
future performance, innovation and affordability for our customers."
The Manned Aircraft Design Center of Excellence will be located
in Melbourne, Fla., and will include aircraft design work currently
being performed at the company's Bethpage, N.Y., facility. The B-2,
F/A-18 and F-35 programs will remain in Palmdale, El Segundo and Redondo
Beach, Calif., respectively.
The company's Unmanned Systems Center of Excellence will be
located at its Rancho Bernardo facility in San Diego, Calif. Two
programs will transition to that center: the MQ-4C Triton program from
Bethpage, N.Y., and the NATO Airborne Ground Surveillance program from
Melbourne, Fla.
“This is exciting news from Northrop Grumman,” said Congressman Posey. “Brevard County has been a home for Northrop Grumman for decades and their decision to expand here and strengthen their commitment to our community should be applauded. Brevard County is a natural fit for Northrop Grumman’s new Manned Aircraft Design Center. This positive news means hundreds of new jobs for Brevard County and will provide a needed economic boost for local businesses and families.”
“This is exciting news from Northrop Grumman,” said Congressman Posey. “Brevard County has been a home for Northrop Grumman for decades and their decision to expand here and strengthen their commitment to our community should be applauded. Brevard County is a natural fit for Northrop Grumman’s new Manned Aircraft Design Center. This positive news means hundreds of new jobs for Brevard County and will provide a needed economic boost for local businesses and families.”
Additionally, Northrop Grumman has designated two Aircraft Integration Centers of
Excellence, one in Palmdale, Calif., and the other in St. Augustine,
Fla.
“We are grateful for Northrop Grumman’s
existing presence in our state and that they have chosen to establish
two new centers of excellence here – one in St. Augustine and one in
Melbourne," Florida Governor Rick Scott said. "Northrop Grumman’s investment in Florida means more than
1,000 new jobs for our state and builds on our strong record of job
creation over the last two years. Florida is already ranked number two
in the nation for businesses to grow and succeed, and we won’t stop
until we are number one. More companies continue to move here from other
states like New York and California because Florida is committed to
cutting taxes and eliminating regulations to help job creators succeed
at creating more jobs.”
The company will close its Dominguez Hills, Calif., facility as
part of its long-term effort to reduce facilities and costs. This
facility supports the development and integration of C4I networked
communications capabilities and solutions, and mission support work for
the Information Systems sector. This work will be transitioned in phases
to other company facilities beginning in 2013.
Northrop Grumman also
announced plans to complete the closure of its Electronic Systems
sector's Norwalk, Conn., facility, including radar test range
operations.
