Northrop to Purchase Navia Aviation

Northrop Grumman Corp. agreed to buy a unit of Norway’s Navia for $35 million to strengthen its global air traffic control operations.

The Oslo-based unit, Navia Aviation, sells instrument landing, digital voice switching and air traffic control systems to the global commercial airline industry. It had revenue of about $35 million last year and employs more than 200 people.

Through the purchase, Los Angeles-based Northrop hopes to strengthen its airspace management operations, which it provides in 20 countries. It said the unit will operate under its Electronics Sensors & Systems Division.

The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Shares of Northrop, which had revenue of $8.9 billion last year, rose 75 cents to close at $53.31 on the New York Stock Exchange.