Northrop Grumman has signed a three-year agreement with Inmarsat Global Limited, London, to become a leased services provider and network services distribution partner of Inmarsat Commercial Satellite Services around the world.

Under the agreement, signed Aug. 17, Northrop Grumman will distribute Inmarsat's Broadband Global Area Network and offer standard Inmarsat products and services and customized power and bandwidth worldwide.

Northrop Grumman said the agreement will contribute to lower-cost satellite airtime and services; strengthen its national and international defense and government customer base; and contribute to maintaining satellite communications as a key component of the company's integrated capabilities.

"The utilization of commercial satellite communications has long been a standard component of Northrop Grumman's Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance or C4ISR offerings to U.S. and international customers.

Our relationship with Inmarsat creates a synergistic opportunity for both companies, as these offerings continue to develop around the globe," said Dan Verwiel, director of the battle management systems business in Northrop Grumman's Information Systems sector.