Northrop gets piece of drone refuel program

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. - Northrop Grumman's relative navigation system was selected by the Air Force for the Automated Aerial Refueling program follow-on contract. Relative navigation, the ability to measure the relative motions of two vehicles, is key to the aerial refueling of unmanned vehicles. The Air Force Research Laboratory demonstrated the ability of the AAR system during flight tests in November 2007. It's designed to work with the existing tanker fleet. (Source: Globe Newswire, 02/16/09) Gulf Coast note: Unmanned aerial systems are built in part in Moss Point Miss.; Northrop Grumman and partner EADS hope to build aerial tankers in Mobile, Ala.