Companies announce intention to develop the neext USAF SAR
personnel recovery vehicle
Northrop Grumman
Corporation and EADS North America have announced their intention
to work together to provide the U.S. Air Force with the
next-generation personnel recovery vehicle (PRV).
The PRV program focuses on the Air Force's immediate need to
replace its primary combat search-and-rescue helicopter, the HH-60G
Pave Hawk.
"The Northrop
Grumman/EADS North America team brings together the best in
combat-proven integrated battle management systems and leading-edge
helicopter technology," said Scott J. Seymour, president of
Northrop Grumman's Integrated System sector. "We can provide the
warfighter with the best in network-enabled systems and the latest
in helicopter technologies, all tied together with a strong
performance history in lifecycle system support."
"The complex and demanding missions that require this capability
mix demand that we bring together the best suppliers," Seymour
added. "That's why working with EADS North America presents the
best PRV solution for the Air Force."
In the future, combat search-and-rescue will require a robust,
rotary wing vehicle with battle-management capabilities to ensure
mission success. The PRV is a modern, helicopter-hosted
battle-management system capable of tying into the Air Force's
command-and-control constellation.
"EADS North America and Northrop Grumman will be the strongest,
most capable team to support the U.S. Air Force's combat
search-and-rescue mission," said Ralph Crosby, chairman and CEO,
EADS North America. "This strategic collaboration complements EADS
North America's leadership and experience in commercial and
military helicopter technologies with our long-term strategy in
teaming with U.S. prime contractors to provide quality defense
systems to the U.S. military."
"Our team's PRV system will be an American solution, applying
America's best integration capabilities," added Crosby. "Also, it
will be built in America to provide maximum economic benefit in the
communities where we operate and to U.S. taxpayers as well. EADS
North America's subsidiary, American Eurocopter, has helicopter
production facilities in the states of Texas and Mississippi that
support our large customer base in the law-enforcement and
homeland-security markets."
This collaboration between EADS and Northrop Grumman builds on
the work the companies are doing together on other defense
programs. The Euro Hawk program is a private-sector initiative of
EADS and Northrop Grumman to provide unmanned high-altitude
surveillance capabilities for the German Air Force. The two
companies led the Transatlantic Industrial Proposed Solution offer
to provide NATO with the Alliance Ground Surveillance system, a
long-needed capability that transforms NATO's response force
operation capabilities. More recently, EADS and Northrop Grumman
signed a memorandum of understanding to identify and pursue
business opportunities in the emerging global ballistic-missile
defense market.