Discoverer II is a joint United States Air Force, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and National Reconnaissance Office program. Discoverer II will provide tactical users with high-resolution all-weather, day/night tracking of ground-moving targets, imagery of fixed locations and highly accurate topographic maps of the Earth's surface.

"TRW's selection to continue on Discoverer II validates our corporate commitment to the space-based radar business area," said Tim Hannemann, executive vice president and general manager, TRW Space & Electronics Group. "Our experience on military space programs and innovative approaches to the radar payload, concept of operations and end-to-end architecture promises to produce a low-risk, affordable system that will enhance the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities of both tactical and strategic users."

The Discoverer II system will enable warfighters in the field to task the spacecraft sensor to look for specific targets. The resulting data will be sent back to the user in real-time, via a direct downlink from the spacecraft.

"We plan to bring our extensive experience in radar systems to create new capabilities for the Discoverer II payload that will protect the lives of America's warfighting men and women with improved situational awareness and accurate, timely targeting information," said Wally Hoff, vice president and general manager, Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems Division.

The TRW team is one of two teams selected by the joint program office to refine detailed requirements, system capabilities, trade studies and preliminary system designs for the Discoverer II system. This contract follows an initial 12-month concept definition phase. TRW is the prime contractor and is responsible for building and integrating the system; Northrop Grumman is responsible for the radar payload.

Early next year a single contractor team will be selected to perform a demonstration phase consisting of building, launching and operating two satellites. During the demonstration, the government will generate the data necessary to optimize the design of an operational Discoverer II that could be launched in 2010.

TRW has more than 40 years of proven experience in systems integration and engineering, starting with its systems engineering and technical assistance role on the Air Force's Intercontinental Ballistic Missile program. The company has built all 23 Defense Support Program spacecraft, which provides early warning of strategic and tactical missile launches. The company is leading a team working on the low-Earth orbit component of the nation's next generation missile warning and defense system, the Space Based Infrared System-Low.

For over 30 years, Northrop Grumman Space Systems, a major unit of Northrop Grumman's Electronic Sensors & Systems Sector in Baltimore, has supplied the sensors for scores of space-based missions. Advanced space programs currently include the OrbView commercial remote sensing systems, the Warfighter hyperspectral sensor, and the imaging radar transmit/receive antenna module for future space missions. Northrop Grumman's Web site is: www.northgrum.com.

TRW Space & Electronics Group builds communications, scientific and defense spacecraft for military, civil and commercial customers; produces, integrates and tests payloads; develops advanced space instruments; and integrates experiments into spacecraft. It is an operating unit of TRW Inc., which provides advanced technology products and services for the global automotive, aerospace and information systems markets. TRW's Web site is at: www.trw.com.

Discoverer II: Global Precision Surveillance

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