Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been selected by the U.S. Army to compete in the first phase of the Improved Threat Detection System program, featuring Northrop Grumman’s Advanced Tactical Hostile Engagement Awareness (ATHENA) sensor on an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) through the Consortium Management Group, Inc., on behalf of the Consortium for Command, Control and Communications in Cyberspace (C5). ATHENA is a next-generation missile warning sensor providing always-on, 360-degree situational awareness — elevating aircraft protection and survivability. The ATHENA sensor delivers high-resolution, surround video and wide-band threat detection that can quickly geolocate incoming Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) threats, including hostile fire and anti-tank guided missiles, small arms, medium- and large-caliber machine guns, rocket propelled grenades and anti-tank guided munitions.
Dennis Neel, survivability development programs director, Northrop Grumman: “ATHENA can see where pilots can’t, even looking through an aircraft floor. The sensor delivers safety in-flight through advanced threat warning capabilities and situational awareness previously limited to larger aircraft, making missions safer for pilots and aircrews.”
Northrop Grumman’s ATHENA sensor meets today’s mission needs while providing the U.S. Army with connected, multi-service capabilities to identify future threats. The sensor has performed in several government live-fire exercises. As a form/fit replacement for legacy aircraft sensors, it seamlessly integrates into an aircraft with flare or laser-based countermeasure systems, such as the Common Infrared Countermeasure system. Aside from sharper vision, ATHENA is also a smarter sensor. Onboard processing provides actionable information instantly while preserving mission computing resources for other functions. This processing power, combined with advanced software that is updated easily to address changing mission requirements, allows for additional survivability capabilities. One of these capabilities is full spherical situational awareness. Using the multiple sensors on a standard installation configuration, the individual video feeds are seamlessly stitched together. Operators and passengers can view any point in 360 degrees around the aircraft, even “looking through” the aircraft floor.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American multinational aerospace and defense company. With 95,000 employees[3] and an annual revenue in excess of $30 billion, it is one of the world’s largest weapons manufacturers and military technology providers. As of the end of 2022, Northrop Grumman organized its business around four main sectors, each of which comprises two or more business areas: Aeronautics Systems, Defense Systems, Mission Systems and Space Systems. Since 2011, Northrop Grumman’s headquarters are in West Falls Church, Virginia (previously Jefferson), unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia.
