Northrop Grumman in Colombia

Northrop Grumman in Colombia

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a "$15 billion, global aerospace and defense company providing ... services for its U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers," according to its website. The company has 80,000 employees and projected revenues of $18 billion in 2003.

In September 1998 Northrop Grumman Technical Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Northrup Grumman Corporation, was awarded a contract with the U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command for "operations and maintenance support" for its "Counter Narcotics Surveillance and Control System," according to a Northrup Grumman press release from September 4 of that year. According to a 1999 press release, the contract is for five years and is valued at $60 million. The contract includes "performing maintenance, system operations, and logistic support of seven radar sites and 10 associated ground satellite stations in Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, and Panama."

The Miami Herald reported in February 2001 that Northrop Grumman "provides an unknown number of U.S. citizens that operate and maintain five radar stations in eastern and southern Colombia that track suspected drug smuggling flights." [Miami Herald, Feb. 26, 2001 - link to article text at corpwatch.org]