Northrop Grumman has signed a teaming agreement with Persistent Surveillance Systems (PSS) LLC, Dayton, Ohio to integrate and support PSS's family of sensors into commercial derivative special mission aircraft to include wide area surveillance sensors (WASS).

Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will demonstrate the wide area surveillance technology along with forensic software on aircraft at several venues in 2012. Northrop Grumman will integrate the sensors at its Aberdeen Integration Center, located at Martin State Airport in Baltimore, Md.

"This alliance signifies the potential for significant change in the wide area surveillance market as it reduces costs for federal, state, civil and international agencies to procure and integrate a wide area surveillance sensor for their special mission aircraft," said Bob Gamache, director, operationally responsive systems, Northrop Grumman Technical Services.

"Both Northrop Grumman and PSS have demonstrated innovative, affordable and trusted quick-reaction capabilities enabling the fielding of a new technology in months rather than in years."

The teaming agreement is aimed at providing affordable, proven solutions capitalizing on Northrop Grumman's more than 20 years of modifying commercial-derivative aircraft for special missions and PSS's wide area surveillance capabilities.

"Northrop Grumman has unmatched capabilities in multi-platform and multi-sensor integration while PSS brings commercial WASS experience, image analysis capability, and proven wide-area sensor technology," said Randy Carter, chief executive officer, PSS.

"Together we will set the standard for affordable, integrated airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance with wide area surveillance - both in the U.S. and internationally."