Northrop Grumman Welcomes UK Defence Committee Enquiry Into UK-US Defense Trade

"This Treaty is an important step in strengthening bilateral defenseco-operation between two close allies and defense partners," said GrahamThornton, managing director of Northrop Grumman UK. "It will reduce thebarriers to the exchange of defense goods, services and information-sharing,which will increase the speed of response to operational requirements. TheTreaty has the potential to go a long way towards fundamentally reshapingUK - U.S. security and military collaboration in the coming years."

Northrop Grumman UK, in its submission to the Committee, stronglyrecommended that the UK government endorse the Defense Trade CooperationTreaty and that UK and U.S. officials work together to make the Treaty regimeas user-friendly as possible. It will allow UK and U.S. companies to employits provisions to their greatest effect and maximum benefit of UK and U.S.security and defense forces in the future.

"Any treaty regime should enable true collaboration -- going in bothdirections -- across the Atlantic," said Jerry McGinn, Northrop Grummandirector for U.S.-UK ITAR Policy and chairman of the Aerospace industriesAssociation U.S. - UK Defense Treaty working group, who gave oral evidence tothe Committee. "A partnership between designated US and UK entities, forexample, would create more opportunities for U.S. companies to work togetherwith our UK partners -- as well as with UK branches of our own companies -- toaddress rapidly some of our common problems, programs, improvingresponsiveness to the needs of US and UK forces and leading to more innovationand the development of more effective systems for both U.S. and UK forces."

Northrop Grumman has a long standing relationship with and presence in theUK, dating back more than 20-years. Today, the UK remains a criticallyimportant market for the company as a supplier base and a source fortechnology partners.

Northrop Grumman in the UK operates from locations across the UK --Fareham, Chester, Coventry, New Malden, Peterborough, RAF Waddington andSolihull -- providing avionics, communications, electronic warfare systems,marine navigation systems, robotics, C4I and mission planning, IT systems andsoftware development. Northrop Grumman established its UK corporate office inLondon in early 2006.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $30 billion global defense andtechnology company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems,products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospaceand shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide.