Anti-Missile Contract for Northrop

Northrop Grumman Corp. won an order to supply the Federal Aviation Administration with anti-missile systems to protect four of the agency’s aircraft from attack.

The award, valued at $12.5 million, calls for Northrop to provide the test aircraft with the same infrared anti-missile systems that it supplies the U.S. Air Force for C-17 transport jets.

The systems that will go on the FAA planes, which are used to certify navigation beacons, radar and lighting at commercial airports and military installations, are designed to send shoulder-fired missiles off course. Terrorists launched two such missiles at an Israeli passenger jet in Kenya in 2002, and U.S. intelligence reports indicate that 24 terror groups have them.

The FAA’s planes are being equipped at the request of the U.S. Air Force, which uses the aircraft overseas in areas such as Baghdad, FAA spokeswoman Alison Duquette said.

Century City-based Northrop last month began an 18-month test of a modified version of the military anti-missile system for commercial aircraft under a $55-million contract from the Department of Homeland Security.

FedEx Corp. will fly nine modified MD-10 cargo planes with the system to test its suitability for commercial aviation.

Shares of Northrop rose 61 cents to $69.18.