The facility signifies Northrop Grumman's continued commitment to the Gulf Coast region, and marks southern Mississippi's entry into the aerospace manufacturing industry. Ground breaking on the $13 million, 101,000 square foot facility took place April 13, 2004.

"The Unmanned Systems Center illustrates the company's commitment to our U.S. Air Force, Navy and Army customers by providing a dedicated unmanned systems production facility in a cost-effective location," said Ronald D. Sugar, Northrop Grumman's chairman, chief executive officer and president.

"This also offers our Unmanned Systems business the flexibility to expand operations, as the demand for these systems increases over time."

The Unmanned Systems Center's current workforce consists of 24 employees, which will grow to 60 by the end of 2006. The facility is designed to accommodate 250 employees, which may occur if production demands continue to rise.

"This facility has certainly been a cooperative Northrop Grumman and Jackson County Economic Development Foundation effort from the very beginning," said Don Gaw, Northrop Grumman's Unmanned Systems Center site manager. "We simply could not have completed this facility so quickly without the support of the entire community."

Northrop Grumman is the largest industrial manufacturing employer in the region, with a workforce exceeding 18,000 employees. Five of the corporation's eight business sectors are represented in the Gulf Coast region.

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