Northrop Grumman Gets $730 Million Contract from DOD

The United States Department of Defense has announced that it is granting Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation a contract for $730,000,000 to supply as many as 514 AN/APG-68 (V) 9 radars, which are used in advanced fighter jets.

The first 30 of the units are to be supplied to the government of Turkey to "support foreign military sales to Turkey."

Turkey is a long time ally of the United States, but relations have been strained by the War in Iraq. Turkey feels threatened by the Kurdish portion of Iraq, in the north. It fears that the war may allow Kurds to declare an independent state, or that it will encourage Kurdish populations in Turkey, Iran or other nearby countries to rebel.

The Iraqi Kurds have proclaimed that they want to exist in a semi-autonomous region within Iraq, not as a separate country. There is a group called the Kurdistan Workers Party, PKK, which is fighting for an independent Kurdistan in just the areas claimed by Turkey, as well as by areas controlled by Iraq, Syria and Iran. Kurds live in all of those countries but have been traditionally held down by those societies. They are familiar with the ups and downs of international politics.

Turkey has threatened to invade the north of Iraq to put down the group, and there have been unconfirmed reports that it is making strikes from time to time across the border.

The United States has declared the PKK to be a terrorist organization.

The transfer of the radar units to the Turkish government is a sign of the United States' continued support for Turkey in a stressful time.

The radar has a range of 184 miles and is the latest update. It will give the Turkish planes an edge over other air forces in the area.

Northrop Grumman reports that it has advanced ground mapping capabilities, which would mean that in conjunction with other technologies, it could be part of an all weather air to ground strike capability. It improves earlier versions by 33 percent in terms of range.

Such upgrades could improve the Turkish ability to counter PKK bases on the ground, or to pinpoint PKK troop movements.

It is relatively easy to install into existing fighters, and a special kit is provided for F-16 upgrades.

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. is located in Linthicum Heights, Md., and is one of the world's largest defense contractors. It operates in various areas, including information services, electronics, aerospace and shipping.

Contracts, Department of Defense
AN/APG-68 (V) 9, Northrop Grumman