The Navigation Systems Division of Northrop Grumman Corp. marked 50 years of developing and making gyroscopes, accelerometers and avionics systems at its Woodland Hills facility. The 50-acre campus opened in 1961 as part of Litton Industries and grew to include seven buildings employing more than 1,000 workers. Northrop Grumman acquired Litton in 2001 and made the Valley campus its headquarters for the Navigation Systems Division. The products designed there are used aboard fighter jets, commercial aircraft, spacecraft and satellites, and helicopters. Navigation Systems also has facilities in Utah, Italy and Germany. Navigation Systems is proud to reflect on its history and techno- logical advancements from the first inertial navigation systems to the gyroscope uses on the Messenger spacecraft mission to Mercury, said General Manager Liz Iversen. “We look forward to many more years of innovative products making a difference every single day — whether they’re keeping our warfighters safer or helping pilots to navigate the world,” Iversen said. 1961 – Litton Industries opens Guidance and Control Systems division in Woodland Hills. 1965 – A Boeing 707 completes a flight around the world crossing both the North and South poles using an inertial navigation system developed by Litton. 1968 – FAA certifies use of the inertial navigation system on commercial aircraft 1970s – Woodland Hills facility expands into accelerometers, a device that measure proper acceleration. 1982 – A digital fire control system developed by Litton receives first installation in an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. 1980s – Introduction of ring laser gyroscopes that use laser beams to measure rotation and integrated avionics combining communications, navigation, sensors and digital maps. 1990s – The facility began to expand its space operations. 2001 – Northrop Grumman acquires Litton and makes the Woodland Hills facility the headquarters for its navigation systems division. 2004 – The LN-200 inertial measurement unit is used on the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity. 2010 – Northrop Grumman delivers the 7,000th LN-100 inertial navigation system. 2011 – Northrop Grumman marks 50 years of the Woodland Hills facility. —Mark R. Madler
Northrop Facility Marks 50 Years of Innovation
