Northrop Grumman-Developed Advanced SPEED Software Released by U.S. Marine Corps

ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Marine Corps has released a new, advanced version of software developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) for electromagnetic spectrum situational awareness and operations.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121024/LA98563LOGO)

Using the Systems Planning, Engineering and Evaluation Device (SPEED), communications planners can plan, model and analyze radio and jammer effects in a defined electromagnetic spectrum environment to better understand where communications degradation or interoperability issues may occur.

Version 11.1.1 adds 3D mapping and mission planning capabilities, including frequency-dependent rejection interference analysis, enhanced jammer modeling and effectiveness prediction. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., approved the new software for release July 3.

Developed for the Marine Corps, SPEED is used by other services within the U.S. Department of Defense and joint operations and other U.S. federal agencies. SPEED has also been provided to a select few foreign nations through the Foreign Military Sales program. In addition to extensive use in Afghanistan and Iraq, SPEED has supported numerous joint task forces, two winter Olympics, the 2009 U.S. presidential inauguration, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response following the Indonesia tsunami in 2004, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Haiti earthquake in 2010, and the Japan earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

"Northrop Grumman is proud of its development and advancement of this critical planning capability, particularly as the electromagnetic battlefield grows increasingly complex and the use of the electromagnetic spectrum becomes increasingly essential to warfighters," said Mike Twyman, sector vice president and general manager of the Defense Systems division for Northrop Grumman Information Systems.

"This recent software release is especially important because it represents significant advancements in both front-end user experience and back-end modeling and simulation. This software provides critical integrated functionality that can support both Marine Corps and Army spectrum management and electronic warfare requirements," Twyman said.

Northrop Grumman delivered the first version of SPEED in 1988; it has been in continuous operation for 25 years.

SPEED is a government off-the-shelf product available to U.S. government agencies. Northrop Grumman also has a commercial variant of these capabilities available for licensed sale.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

SOURCE Northrop Grumman Corporation