Northrop Grumman&squo;s Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) operate in a world where failure is expensive in terms of human life and property. As the leading global supplier of generic UGVs for hazardous operations, the company combines unsurpassed field experience with the latest military-grade technology to offer the most versatile range of equipment available today. With exceptional performance from both ANDROS and Wheelbarrow ranges,
Northrop Grumman offers a benchmark solution to the new asymmetrical terrorist threat, enabling Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) professionals to take considered decisions at a distance.
WHEELBARROW EOD UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLE
Building on Northrop Grumman&squo;s experience in delivering unmanned vehicles worldwide, Wheelbarrow has evolved to bring the most advanced technology to the aid of the EOD operator. Today Wheelbarrow is regarded by EOD and CBRNE specialists worldwide as the most capable and reliable unmanned vehicle available. Used in the most demanding of operations, it is unmatched for its combination of speed, dexterity, reach and payload
capabilities.
CUTLASS BOMB DISPOSAL UGV
The largest UK UGV contract to date is for the MoD&squo;s CUTLASS EOD platform, an 80-vehicle contract won by Northrop Grumman in 2006, in the face of international competition.
Perhaps CUTLASS&squo; most notable feature is that its arm has nine degrees of freedom with resolved motion, giving the operator massively enhanced manipulation options. This is a world-first, and coupled with high speed and mobility characteristics, this vehicle takes UGV capabilities to a new level.
Northrop Grumman is also preparing a CUTLASS variant for export for 2009, either as complete systems or with the platforms and payload offered separately. In addition, the company plans to release a range of new developments for the Wheelbarrow range of products. There are also a number of other technical developments that are strictly confidential at present.
Northrop Grumman is also combining its talents from other areas to offer the operator a full Command and Control (C&C) suite for multiple UGVs. Phil Ripley, business development manager at Northrop Grumman Remotec, cites the company&squo;s new integrated collaboration environment based on TouchTable technology: “It&squo;s a display with a touch sensitive screen the size of a typical desk, providing a map viewed from above and
overlaying data from different sources. This allows users to zoom in and out and move around to review ground scenarios in significant detail; and with the support of historical data it&squo;s a major development in command capability. The aim is to provide accurate, real time situational awareness in a user-friendly format ‐ giving an extra edge against potential threats.”
EOD, SEVURITY, SURVEILLANCE AND SENSING VEHICLES
A leading supplier of unmanned ground vehicles for more than 30 years, Northrop Grumman&squo;s Remotec subsidiary designs, engineers and manufactures a range of EOD, security, surveillance and sensing vehicles, with additional HazMat and CBRN applications. The company is the UK MoD&squo;s sole supplier for this size of vehicle, and the company is a partner to police and military organisations worldwide, with well over 2,000 UGVs sold
internationally.
ABOUT NORTHROP GRUMMAN
Northrop Grumman is a global defence and technology company and provides innovative products, services and solutions in systems integration, defence electronics, information technology, advanced aircraft, shipbuilding and space technology.
With headquarters in Los Angeles, California, the company has annual revenues in excess of $30billion and more than 120,000 employees operating in 25 countries serving international military, government and commercial customers.
In the UK, Northrop Grumman has successfully operated for a number of years and provides avionics, communications, electronic warfare systems, marine navigation systems, C4I and mission planning, unmanned vehicles, IT systems and software development. The company&squo;s primary UK facilities are based in London, Chester, Coventry, Fareham, New Malden, Peterborough, RAF Waddington and Solihull.