The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman an $80 million contract to upgrade and enhance the Next Generation Command and Control Processor (NGC2P).

The NGC2P system is a tactical data link communication processor that provides critical real-time information about friendly and enemy activity during combat operations.

The five-year, indefinite-quantity, indefinite-delivery NGC2P Technology Refresh and Link 22 contract was awarded Jan. 9 by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), San Diego. An additional two-year option would bring the total value to $95 million.

Under the contract, Northrop Grumman will provide software and hardware system development, engineering services and technology refresh field change kits for the communications processors aboard naval surface ships.

Northrop Grumman will first provide designs addressing obsolescence issues in the current system.

These improvements will increase computational capacity and later support system capability enhancements and new capability insertion, such as integration of the Link 22 secure digital radio link.

"Having supported SPAWAR PMW-150 since the early 1990s, Northrop Grumman is proud of our record as a reliable partner able to respond rapidly to customer requirements," said Mike Twyman, vice president and general manager of the Defense Systems division for Northrop Grumman Information Systems.

"Our collaboration with the Navy accomplished this critical capability for warfighters, and we will continue to provide innovative and affordable solutions to enhance the system."

Northrop Grumman was first selected to develop NGC2P in 2008. The Northrop Grumman NGC2P team includes GET Engineering, El Cajon, Calif.; FUSE Integration, Inc., Long Beach, Calif.; and Technology Unlimited Group, San Diego.