Par Avion - Our Daily Air Show Web Journal
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Northrop Grumman introduces Par Avion our daily air show Web journal direct from the 2009 Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, France. Par Avion gives readers a first-hand account of events that relate to Northrop Grumman our people, our products and our perceptions. Additional photos can be found in our Paris Air Show photo gallery. |
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Strong Finish
By Randy Belote, Vice President, Strategic Communications
This will be the last Web journal entry for the 2009 Paris Air Show. Starting tomorrow, the doors open to the public for the rest of the week-long event. We at Northrop Grumman have enjoyed sharing information with you over the last few days.
Today, the Northrop Grumman business center was full of activity, with record numbers of customer meetings. The static-display area was the place to be as groups of visitors got a look at our ISTAR and UAV capabilities. We met with delegations from Saudi Arabia, Spain, Denmark, and Belgium, as well as a large Tri-State economic development delegation composed of representatives from Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. His Royal Highness Prince Faisal of the Royal Jordanian Air Force also visited our chalet to discuss the company’s systems and capabilities.
Against the backdrop of a full-scale Global Hawk model, we demonstrated EO/IR video imagery as it was transmitted in real time by a live airborne link from a U.S. Navy Fire Scout UAV. The Fire Scout, located at Webster Field in Maryland, was flying a series of demonstration missions set up especially for this event. Several customer groups, including representatives of the U.S. Navy, were on hand to see the formidable capabilities of the system.
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| Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems Sector Vice President Tom Vice (third from left) spends time with U.S. Navy E-2C and C-2 Greyhound field engineers and maintenance technicians on hand throughout the week at the Paris Air Show. Pictured (left to right) are E-2/C-2 Field Engineer Shaun L. Brown, E-2/C-2 Supervisor Mike Burdette, Mr. Vice, and E-2/C-2 Maintenance Technician Steve Lewis. Full caption. |
Of course, Northrop Grumman is part of a number of high-profile aircraft programs, and several of these were on display. The U.S. Navy E-2C Hawkeye and C-2 Greyhound, as well as a full-scale model of an F-35, clearly were recognizable among the many parked aircraft.
We had good things to talk about this week. Two recent announcements were the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye program’s receiving a $432 million contract for Low-Rate Initial Production, and the fact that we had reached a major milestone in the F-35’s development and production by delivering the center fuselage for the first production aircraft. Northrop Grumman is a principal member of the Lockheed Martin-led F-35 team, playing a central role in the development, production and support of the aircraft and its electronic systems. We are responsible for the design and production of center fuselage, and we designed and produce the aircraft's radar and other key avionics including electro-optical and communications subsystems as well as develop the mission systems and mission-planning software.
All in all, we’re really pleased with how things went at the 2009 Paris Air Show.
We hope you’ve found this Web journal and the entire online media kit helpful. We’ll keep it linked off the Northrop Grumman home page for at least a few weeks. Meanwhile, we encourage you to send us your feedback about this journal and the online media kit.
Thank you for visiting. We’ll see you next year at Farnborough. 
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
More and More Media Coverage
By Ken Beedle, London-based Director of International Communications
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Ken Beedle Director, International Communications |
Monday’s rain gave way to bright sunshine as we entered the second day of the show. Our media activities continued apace with four programme briefings covering Global Hawk (Block 10 and Block 20), E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, Fire Scout (Navy and Army ) and electronic warfare systems. Each attracted strong media interest with near-capacity attendance.
The tanker programme dominated the day, which certainly is understandable; we’re looking forward to the draft request for proposal sometime in the next few months.
Northrop Grumman Chairman and CEO Ron Sugar and EADS CEO Louis Gallois reaffirmed our joint commitment to the tanker programme in a media statement. In it, Dr. Sugar said, The KC-45 was previously selected because of its superior operational capability, lower risk and greater cost effectiveness. We have continued to strengthen our offering and look forward to working closely with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Air Force to ensure that the upcoming competition will provide the warfighter with the most capable, best value tanker available.
Dr. Sugar and Wes Bush (bio | photo) were once again active with the media today. CNBC interviewed Dr. Sugar live from the air show media centre. He commented on the company’s prospects for bringing home the contract, saying we’ve won the competition once and we’re determined to win it again. He also explained how we’re well positioned to meet the challenges of these turbulent economic times and for future success. Wes Bush, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, echoed those comments. The Financial Times also interviewed Dr. Sugar, and here, too, the tanker programme was the main topic of discussion.
Tomorrow will be the final day of formal media activity. We’ve scheduled briefings on Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR), Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) and Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) systems.
As you can see, the Northrop Grumman Paris Air Show online media kit is well populated with content on all sorts of subjects. Please click around and take a look.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Thunderous Beginning to Air Show
by Randy Belote, Vice President, Strategic Communications
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| Northrop Grumman Paris Communications team doesn't let rain dampen spirits. From left, Ken Beedle, Katie Lamb-Heinz, Randy Belote, Cynthia Curiel. |
The skies opened up today, the first day of the 100th meeting of the Paris Air Show, but the thunderous sound overhead wasn’t from the storm; it came from fighter and commercial aircraft a sure sign that the 2009 show is underway. As the show kicked off, no one was about to let something like the rain dampen spirits here at Le Bourget.
Northrop Grumman hosted more than 100 meetings today in its Business Center at the air show, with delegations and representatives from all over the world Israel, Greece, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Japan, Oman and Chile, to name a few.
The U.S. Armed Forces and Congressional leaders proudly waved the U.S. flag as they met with our senior executives.
Northrop Grumman provided a comprehensive array of media activities throughout the day. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ronald D. Sugar met with reporters from Reuters, the Wall Street Journal and Defense News to discuss the company’s outlook and positioning for future success and growth. BBC World News television taped an interview with President and Chief Operating Officer Wes Bush (bio | photo). We understand that will air internationally during the show.
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| Paul Meyer gives KC-45 Tanker briefing. |
Additionally, the media center buzzed with activity. We held press briefings on a variety of programs, including the KC-45 Tanker (Press Briefing
), F-35 sensors (AESA Radar | EO DAS), Unmanned Systems (Unmanned Systems Web Site | Press Briefing ), and the new STARlite program. Record numbers of reporters representing media organizations from around the world attended today’s briefings, and coverage of Northrop Grumman is expected throughout the show and in coming months.
The first day was a good one, and we’re looking forward to tomorrow, and to the rest of our time here. I invite you to check back regularly, both here on Northrop Grumman’s Web journal and at our Paris Air Show site for updates.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Greetings from the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget
by Darryl Fraser, Corporate Vice President, Communications
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| Darryl Fraser, Corporate Vice President, Communications |
I arrived in Paris today and went to Le Bourget, the location of the Paris Air Show. All the major aerospace and defense companies will be present. Sunday is the final preparation day and I'm pleased to report the Northrop Grumman exhibits, business center and media center look outstanding. The team from corporate and the sectors has done an excellent job getting the venue setup for what promises to be an important and eventful week.
I want to provide a few comments on the overall branding for the company. As you know, we are branding the company as a leader in global security. When you walk into the business center, the reception area is very striking and clearly communicates the company's value proposition in markets we serve. Of course, there is the familiar Northrop Grumman logo. Instead of showing photos of our products in the reception area note there are many other areas where we do have product photos we chose to use words to describe our capabilities as well as a few aircraft, satellite and ship models. The reception clearly communicates we are "a leader in global security" and identifies several capabilities that define our leadership position:
- Integrated Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Systems
- Confronting Irregular Challenges
- Cybersecurity
- Global Climate Watch
- Global Reach
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We will have many meetings and discussions with customers, investors, industry partners and the media during the week. The branding strategy we have put in place is intended to communicate the value proposition of Northrop Grumman to the collective set of stakeholders we will interact with. The individual sector messages and themes are also linked to the overall corporate brand. In summary, I'm pleased with the look and feel of the company's presence and I'm looking forward to the official start of the show tomorrow.
We'll be posting updates in this space over the next several days. Please check back for more as the air show progresses. Meanwhile, we encourage you to explore this site for more information on Northrop Grumman, our programs and our people.
Finishing Touches, Ready to Go...
by Randy Belote, Vice President, Strategic Communications
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Randy Belote Vice President, Strategic Communications |
The preparations are almost complete for Northrop Grumman's participation in the 2009 Paris Air Show. The Northrop Grumman business center and media center at Le Bourget are built, receiving final touches and look ready for action.
Northrop Grumman officials have arrived in France and are already participating in activities, representing the company in various venues and receptions all around the city.
One reception attended by several Northrop Grumman executives, held mid-day on Sunday and hosted by the business development organizations of the States of Alabama, Mississippi and Florida was held on a boat and attended by Ala. Gov. Bob Riley, Miss. Gov. Haley Barbour, U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., and Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Ala. and City of Mobile Mayor Sam Jones.
During the reception many of the elected representatives spoke of the need to replace the aging KC-135 tanker fleet and how the Northrop Grumman-led KC-45 Team's tanker is the most capable tanker in the tanker competition. They all vowed to work to help the KC-45 win again.
The air show officially kicks off tomorrow (Monday, 15 June) morning with whole host of customer meetings, media briefings and visits by dignitaries and international delegations.
Please visit this site for air show updates throughout the week.