Northrop Grumman To Supply Interrogator Sets To U.S Navy

Northrop Grumman has won a $11.5 million contract from the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) for the fabrication, testing and delivery of AN/UPX-24(V) interrogator sets. Under the contract, Northrop Grumman will provide five AN/UPX-24(V) identification friend or foe (IFF) processor sets in an open-architecture configuration to enhance the situational awareness and threat identification capabilities of naval ships. As a core component of the AN/UPX-29(V) shipboard interrogator system, the AN/UPX-24(V) interrogator set is a major subsystem that provides a centralized identification system for ships by determining whether aircraft or ships equipped with IFF transponders are friendly or unknown forces. "This contract builds upon the strong relationship that Northrop Grumman has built with NAVAIR through many years of providing the AN/UPX-24(V)," said Ike Song, vice president of situational awareness systems at Northrop Grumman. "These new sets will augment the Navy's defenses, providing greater protection for our men and women at sea". The AN/UPX-24(V) quickly and accurately identifies friendly aircraft, helping to prevent fratricide. The system provides target data to the ship's command, control, communications, computer and intelligence system, and generates interrogation commands in response to requests for priority target identification. The set accept transponders replies and provides target reports to a shipboard weapon system. Each AN/UPX-24(V) consists of a control monitor, a central processor-controller and up to 22 control indicators.