Northrop Grumman Corp. said Thursday that it has been awarded an order to supply the Federal Aviation Administration with anti-missile systems for the agency’s aircraft.
The award is valued at $12.5 million and calls for the Los Angeles defense contractor to provide four test aircraft with an infrared anti-missile detection system similar to the one on the Air Force’s C-17 cargo jet.
The primary objective of the systems is to protect civilian air planes from a possible attack from a shoulder-launched missile or other small rocket fire.
Northrop in September that it had begun an 18-month test on a modified version of the anti-missile system for commercial aircraft under a $55 million contract from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
FedEx Corp. also will install similar systems on nine of its MD-10 cargo planes to test the system’s suitability.
Shares in Northrop rose 40 cents to $68.97 in early trading Thursday.
