CSC Australia will provide the test program set and interface test adapter for the communications, navigation and identification (CNI) avionics interface controller, which lets the CNI system work with other systems on the F-35. A wholly owned subsidiary of Computer Sciences Corporation, CSC Australia has been involved in major defense projects for almost 30 years.

MiKES will provide power-conditioning electronics for the early design phases of Northrop Grumman's CNI avionics system. MiKES is a defense electronic design and manufacturing house specializing in electronic warfare.

The CNI avionics are being developed by the Radio Systems business unit of Northrop Grumman's Space Technology sector, under contract to Lockheed Martin. When fully developed, the system will enable more than 35 critical CNI functions for the F-35.

"We chose CSC Australia and MiKES for their best-value solutions as we continue to leverage the expertise of the program's international partners," said Judy Hertzberg, director of Radio Systems Supply Chain Management. "We remain committed to international participation opportunities with all our partner countries."

In Australia, Northrop Grumman has additional F-35 contracts with GKN Aerospace in Victoria, BAE Systems in South Australia, Cablex in Victoria, Hawker de Havilland in Victoria, Micreo in Queensland, Production Parts in Victoria, Vipac Engineers and Scientists, Victoria and Ferra in Queensland. In Turkey, the company has an additional contract with Aselsan in Ankara, Kalekalip in Istanbul and Tusas Aerospace Industries in Ankara.

Northrop Grumman's CNI system utilizes sophisticated software-defined radio technology to simultaneously support numerous capabilities such as various voice and data communications, automatic acquisition of fly-to points and friend-or-foe identification.

The system can also dynamically reconfigure these functions to support priorities defined by missions. Using software-defined radio technology, Northrop Grumman's CNI system is a fraction of the size and weight of the single-function radios previously required to implement the same functions. This "smart-box" approach allows for increased performance, quicker deployment, higher availability, enhanced scalability and lower lifecycle cost.

Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. The F-35 is a next-generation, supersonic, multi-role, stealth aircraft designed to replace a wide range of aging fighter and strike aircraft.

Three variants derived from a common design will ensure the F-35 meets the performance needs of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy and allied defense forces worldwide, while staying within strict affordability targets.

The international signatories - the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway - have had direct input in the design phase of the aircraft and companies worldwide are participating in the F-35's development. More recently, Israel and Singapore have joined the F-35 program as security cooperative participants.

Northrop Grumman plays a critical role in the development and demonstration of the F-35. Responsibilities range from integrating a major section of the aircraft's structure to producing key avionics and communications subsystems to developing mission-planning software and training systems.

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