Northrop Grumman has purchased Ryan Aeronautical for $140 million in cash, in an unexpected move aimed at bolstering its unmanned air vehicle (UAV) activities.
Ryan Aeronautical, a division of Allegheny Teledyne, is developing the Global Hawk long endurance surveillance and reconnaissance UAV for the US Air Force. It is in the initial stages of testing the Miniature Air Launched Decoy - a small low-cost UAV that can be launched from aircraft. Ryan also continues to produce the Firebee target for the US Navy, USAF and other international customers.
Northrop Grumman chairman, president and chief executive Kent Kresa says the acquisition "is an excellent strategic fit with many of Northrop Grumman's business areas and strengthens our surveillance and precision strike capabilities". The buy-out is to be completed "around July-August", says Ryan, which will become an operating element of Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems and Aerostructures sector in its Air Combat Systems business unit. Ryan's UAV expertise will be used to strengthen Northrop Grumman's UAV studies.
Source: Flight International
