First Northrop Grumman-Built National Security Cutter Delivered to U.S. Coast Guard

(Source: Northrop Grumman Corp.; issued May 8, 2008)

PASCAGOULA, Miss. --- Today the U.S. Coast Guard accepted delivery of the first Northrop Grumman Corporation-built National Security Cutter (NSC), Bertholf (WMSL 750) -- the most technologically advanced ship in U.S. Coast Guard history. Officials representing the company's Shipbuilding sector, U.S. Coast Guard and partner Lockheed Martin signed the official DD-250 documents, signifying the delivery of the ship.

Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, the newly-formed sector of Northrop Grumman Corporation, is made up of the former Northrop Grumman Ship Systems and Newport News shipbuilding entities.

“Our shipbuilding team faced a number of challenges in designing and building this first-of-class ship. We've worked through the issues and the Coast Guard is getting a great capability to meet their mission requirements,'' said Irwin F. Edenzon, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding - Gulf Coast. “We're proud of the final product and look forward to building more NSCs in the future.''

Bertholf is the first ship in the new class of highly capable, technologically advanced, multi-mission cutters. The NSC was built through the Deepwater Program under contract from Integrated Coast Guard Systems, a joint venture of Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin.

“The high endurance cutter will provide an unprecedented platform for cuttermen who will no doubt be navigating a ship that is ready to serve,'' said Richard Schenk, vice president of U.S. Coast Guard programs. “Wherever Bertholf sails, she will carry a Northrop Grumman quality stamp born from the commitment and determination of our shipbuilders. This will be the flagship of the U.S. Coast Guard's fleet.''

The NSC is a 418-foot vessel with a 4,300 ton displacement at full load and is powered by a combined diesel and gas turbine power propulsion plant driving twin screws with a maximum speed of over 28 knots. The cutter includes an aft launch and recovery area for two rigid hull inflatable boats, an expansive flight deck able to accommodate a range of rotary wing manned and unmanned aircraft and state-of-the-art command and control systems. In addition, the cutter features improved habitability, and a design to facilitate optimized crewing and enhance onboard quality of life for a mixed gender crew.


Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense and technology company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide. (ends)


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U.S. Coast Guard Accepts Delivery of First National Security Cutter, Lockheed Martin Command and Control System

(Source: Lockheed Martin; issued May 8, 2008)

MOORESTOWN, N.J. --- The U.S. Coast Guard today accepted delivery of the first National Security Cutter, USCGC Bertholf (WMSL 750), a 418-foot vessel built by Northrop Grumman and equipped by Lockheed Martin with integrated communications, sensors and electronics systems. Acceptance signifies transfer of ownership from industry to government and the start of operational test and evaluation.

Lockheed Martin's Coast Guard Command & Control (CG-C2) system provides the Coast Guard a common operating picture to aid coordination among helicopters, aircraft, other ships and shore facilities. The system facilitates interoperability with the forces and agencies of the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and 117 federal and regional agencies and organizations. It also provides sensors for surface and air detection, tracking, classification and identification, and an integrated voice communications capability over a host of commercial and military radios and satellites.

"Our team has worked with the Coast Guard for many years to reach this point," said Richard Lockwood, vice president of Lockheed Martin's Coast Guard Systems business. "Whether we called home the Maritime Domain Awareness Center in New Jersey, Training Center Petaluma in California, or our doublewide trailer pier side at the shipyard, our dedication to the men and women of the Coast Guard has never wavered. We are confident that CG-C2 will dramatically improve the Coast Guard's capability to perform its many missions."

Today's milestone followed a series of at-sea trials culminating in a third-party assessment by the U.S. Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV).

"The INSURV report confirmed the quality of our engineers' system design and our shipboard integration and test team's work," said Lockwood. "We have a small number of open items yet to close, which is expected with a system of CG-C2's complexity, but we stand ready to support Captain Stadt and his crew as they run Bertholf through her paces."

CG-C2, installed on Bertholf, is fully interoperable with systems previously delivered on the HC-144A Ocean Sentry maritime patrol aircraft, the modified HC-130J Hercules long-range search aircraft, and upgrades to the Coast Guard's 39 legacy high- and medium-endurance cutters.

Bertholf is scheduled to be formally commissioned by the Coast Guard on August 4, 2008 at its future homeport in Alameda, Calif.

The crew of Bertholf has already trained on the CG-C2 at Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma. The $26 million facility, which the Coast Guard opened in March 2007, was equipped by Lockheed Martin with state-of-the-art simulators, radars and electronics equipment to train Coast Guard crews assigned to the new Legend-class of National Security Cutters.

The CG-C2 is a product of the Maritime Domain Awareness Center, a state- of-the-art facility in Moorestown, NJ, designed to develop, test and integrate equipment and systems being produced to support the Coast Guard's Deepwater program.

Integrated Coast Guard Systems, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, was awarded the Deepwater contract in June 2002 and has been renewed through January 2011.


Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2007 sales of $41.9 billion.

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