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Northrop Grumman Corporation Cites Aurora Flight Sciences for Excellence in Manufacturing Performance

Aurora Flight Sciences has received Platinum Source Supplier status from the Northrop Grumman Corporation. To receive Platinum status, a Northrop Grumman supplier must have a minimum of 99% Hardware Acceptance, 95% On-Time Delivery Performance and maintain a score of at least a 5 out of a possible 10 points in each of Customer Satisfaction and Process Health for four consecutive quarters. Aurora's advanced composites manufacturing facility is currently AS9100 certified and Nadcap accredited for a variety of special processes.

Aurora has been part of Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk team building every V-tail since 1995. Aurora has steadily increased its Global Hawk workshare which now includes all of the aircraft's composite components except the wing and radome.

Becoming a Platinum Source Supplier is a team achievement. Over two-thirds of Aurora's roughly 150 employees in West Virginia work on the Global Hawk. "The drive for continuous improvement in our processes is a tribute to our dedicated workforce," stated Ron Richman, General Manager of Aurora WV. Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems Sector Director, John Saliture, said, "By Aurora's selection into Northrop Grumman's Platinum Source Program, Aurora has demonstrated that you have met the rigorous standards imposed by Northrop Grumman -- this is by no means an easy feat. Our performance requirements are some of the highest in the industry. Northrop Grumman recognizes our Platinum suppliers as essential partners and teammates, committed to unquestionable quality, continuous quality improvement and flawless delivery performance."

About Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences designs and builds robotic aircraft and other advanced aerospace vehicles for scientific and military applications. Aurora is headquartered in Manassas, VA and operates production plants in Bridgeport, WV and Columbus, S and a Research and Development Center in Cambridge, A. To view recent press releases and more about Aurora please visit our web site at www.aurora.aero.