Boeing

ST. LOUIS, June 27, 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has been awarded a $14.9 million contract by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to develop and mature technologies required to enable airborne electronic attack from long distances, filling the stand-off electronic attack role. The contract includes systems engineering studies focusing on potential pod installation on the B-52H aircraft, as the designated demonstration airframe. This effort will advance the technology required for the planned Core Component Jammer (CCJ).

"We look forward to maturing the planned CCJ technology, which will keep our warfighters safer as they complete missions in the air and on the ground," said Scot Oathout, director of B-52 Programs for Boeing. "This is the first step in getting this capability fielded, and the B-52H is the right platform to mature this technology."

The multi-mission B-52H is the only platform in the Air Force inventory that accommodates all necessary attributes for jamming electronic attacks while delivering its full complement of weapons, including responsiveness, range, loiter time, size and power.

"Adding this capability to the B-52H will strengthen its position as the most versatile aircraft in the U.S. inventory," said Jeff Weis, CCJ program manager for Boeing. "The B-52 will still be able to deliver precision weapons on target while protecting other allied forces in theater."

The Boeing-led team will employ the electronic-attack expertise of Bethpage, N.Y.-based Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems. After successful completion of this initial three-year effort, a follow-on effort to demonstrate in-flight, stand-off jamming on the B-52 is scheduled for 2011-2012.

"Our decades of experience designing sophisticated airborne electronic attack systems tells us that the Boeing and Northrop Grumman team can develop a powerful, best-value jamming system for the Air Force with a minimum of risk," said Patricia McMahon, vice president and deputy, Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems Eastern Region. "The team is excited about delivering the results of our study to the Air Force."