Under the contract, Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector will produce six standoff detection units, which are designed to aid military and civilian first responders in locating, identifying and warning of chemical-agent threats.

The systems can be installed at fixed sites or adapted for vehicular use. Two detector units each will be delivered to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and White Sands Missile Range, N.M., for government-sponsored product-qualification testing and evaluation.

"Standoff detection provides the soldier and civilian first responder with an important capability, recognizing there has been a potential chemical agent release in time to take responsive action to protect themselves and others," said David Tilles, director of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense Production Programs at Northrop Grumman.

"Northrop Grumman's chemical-detection instrument has performed well in previous tests, and we are looking forward to supporting the government in the commercial standoff chemical-agent detector program."

This chemical-agent detector initiative builds on similar successful chemical and biological detection programs under way at the company on behalf of the U.S. Postal Service and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Northrop Grumman team members for the production phase include CRE, Alexandria, Va., which will provide systems engineering and test support; MESH, Oxford, Pa., which will assist with software and algorithm development; and Block Engineering, Marlborough, Mass., which will provide the sensor and hardware engineering needs.

The contract value is $3.1 million.