newsletterSHOWCASE

...Right now the high-tech aircraft that inhabit the Unmanned Systems Center in Moss Point
include Fire Scout, Global Hawk and Hunter. But it’s likely that’s just the start.
...It’s state-of-the-art, and that makes for an interesting future.
...Don Gaw, the former plant manager who has since returned to California, sees a number of
opportunities for the Moss Point facility. He said there are discussions behind closed doors that,
if they reach fruition, could mean more work at Moss Point. He said the facility is getting a lot of
attention from a number of fronts.
...“It’s a very impressive facility. It just begs to be filled up as a showcase,” he said. He said
there’s no compelling reason to look elsewhere when Northrop Grumman already has this world-
class facility.
...The 101,000 square foot Moss Point facility, which officially opened in April 2006, recently
took on a new project to retrofit seven Hunter UAVs. It involves painting the inside of the
infrastructure and performing systems installation work to convert A versions to B. If the vehicle
goes back into production the Moss Point facility could have the opportunity for more Hunter
work.
...Gaw also said there are opportunities to get additional work on the Global Hawk, including
some avionics work, but that’s hardly the end of the possibilities for that particular platform.
...“It could grow beyond that. There is potential on Global Hawk to do even more. We could
ultimately perform flight tests there,” said Gaw. That would require lengthening the runway by
1,500 feet. Northrop Grumman already plans to flight test the Fire Scouts in Moss Point
sometime in 2007.
...Even with the considerable capabilities now available at the site, Northrop has an eye on the
future and has first rights to another 30 areas directly north of the unmanned systems center, said
Bryan Mahoney, who took over from Gaw as plant manager.
One of the excellent selling points for South Mississippi involves logistics, said Mahoney.
Companies need to be able to get materials in and out quickly, and this area has multiple options.
...“You have all of that here,” he said.
...Mahoney said the company gets calls daily from people interested in coming back to this
region. That makes sense, because the environment in South Mississippi is conducive to raising a
family.
...“We’re getting calls and requests on a daily basis,” said Mahoney, who has a sense
competitors are interested as well.
...“Logistically, folks like to co-locate. I would anticipate that type of activity,” he said.
...Like others in the aerospace community, Gaw sees the Interstate 10 corridor between
Louisiana and Northwest Florida growing into a premier aerospace region.
...“I see growth potential, for sure,” said Gaw, who sees a lot of positives for this region. He said
that as more aerospace companies come in, the list of suppliers will also grow, much as it has
with the move of automakers to the Southeast.
...He is particularly impressed with the work force in the region. They are dedicated and have a
sense of pride in their work, which he said is invaluable to Northrop Grumman. A lot of eyes
were watching the Global Hawk project, many wondering if the South Mississippi work force
could handle it. They have been up to the task from the start.
...“As that kind of news gets out, I see growth there,” Gaw said.
...Work is under way on the first Global Hawk at Moss Point. It will be delivered to their
Palmdale, Calif., facility for final assembly on Jan. 28. The first Fire Scout for the Navy has
already been delivered for testing, and work is under way for seven others – two for the Navy
and five for the Army.
...A key attraction of locating the center in Moss Point was proximity to Northrop Grumman
Ship Systems in Pascagoula. That allows for the sharing of resources, including drawing on the
supplier network that ship systems has built. Gaw, who thinks that community will continue to
grow, also sees synergies with composites work done in Gulfport and research at the University
of Southern Mississippi. – Tcp