Northrop Grumman Corp. said it has created a United Kingdom-based operation that will spearhead of the company’s activities in the UK defense, security, civil government and commercial sectors, the company said Tuesday.

The operation will be called Northrop Grumman UK Limited and will be based in London, the Los Angeles-based defense and government contractor said.

“The creation of the new British company is consistent with Northrop Grumman’s global, long-term commitment to growing its international business,” said Graham Thornton, the Northrop’s United Kingdom director and vice-president for business development.

Northrop operates in six primary locations in the U.K. that focus on the company’s business there of providing life support systems, supply chain management and maintenance for the Royal Air Force’s E-3D airborne warning and control system aircraft. It also provides the Home Office with support for its identification service that provides finger and palm print identification systems for police forces in England, Wales and Scotland.

Northrop also said it is perusing other programs in the U.K. to expand its business such as work on unmanned ground vehicles and radar work with other Royal Air Force aircraft.

Shares in Northrop were up 17 cents to $68.20 in early trading Tuesday.