[SatNews] ...offers a web-enabled, net-centric environment for contingency and crisis action planning at the combatant commander (COCOM) and strategic level.

The U.S. Air Force has selected Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) to enhance and maintain the Global Adaptive Planning Collaborative Information Environment (GAP CIE) software system with a five year, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract valued at up to $98 million.

GAP CIE offers a web-enabled, net-centric environment for contingency and crisis action planning at the combatant commander (COCOM) and strategic level. The system allows multiple COCOM staffs, subordinate commands and other agencies to collaborate online for mission planning and providing analysis to senior decision-makers.

"The GAP CIE is designed for emerging crisis situations, so it's important we automate courses of action tools to let joint operation planners focus on the quality of the information and the plan," said Doug Pachunka, director, strategic command and control, Northrop Grumman Information Systems. "We'll build on our understanding of the technical challenge and apply our innovative software development approaches and engineering rigor to ensure an intuitive, reliable and sustainable capability."

The GAP CIE contract was awarded by the Life Cycle Management Center, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Under the direction of the U.S. Strategic Command, Northrop Grumman will make software deliveries to sustain and enhance fielded GAP CIE capabilities. The company will also continue the effort to incorporate tools for the production of campaign assignment, contingency plans and orders, plan tasking and guidance for force employment decisions. The Northrop Grumman GAP CIE engineering efforts will be built on agile software development concepts for warfighter-focused capabilities and incorporate best-practice, repeatable CMMI Level 5/ISO9001 processes for quality software.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit here for more information.