ESRI to Provide GIS Software Component of NIMA Commercial Joint Mapping Toolkit Contract

New Tools Will Expand Map Display and Analysis Capabilities for All DoD Command and Control Systems

Redlands, California, July 9, 2002 - ESRI announced today that it will provide the geographic information system (GIS) software component of the Commercial Joint Mapping Toolkit (C/JMTK) contract awarded by the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) earlier this week. NIMA selected Northrop Grumman Information Technology (IT) to lead the $72 million contract along with a team composed of ESRI; Analytical Graphics, Inc.; and Leica Geosystems/ERDAS.

C/JMTK will provide the mapping and geospatial foundation for the Defense Information Infrastructure Common Operating Environment (DII COE), which is a software infrastructure that enables mission applications, such as the Global Command and Control Systems, to share common support applications such as the C/JMTK. This builds upon the existing Joint Mapping Toolkit, a common suite of government software that has provided the map display, analysis tools, and mapping utilities for potentially all Department of Defense (DoD) command and control systems.

This award will see modern commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) GIS components integrated into the DII COE. This will mean that map displays throughout the Joint and Service Command and Control Systems will utilize ESRI's ArcGIS platform as a foundation. This will provide the war fighter with a comprehensive range of map display, visualization, and analysis tools providing real-time situational awareness, track management, terrain analysis, multi-INT fusion, and more-all based on a common spatial information infrastructure and all using the same open application framework.

"ESRI has had a long and productive relationship with the Department of Defense," said Jack Dangermond, ESRI president. "We have listened intently to the needs of this most exacting of communities, and with the award of this contract we are committed to delivering the world's best GIS in mission applications."

"We are very excited to be working with NIMA and our industry teammates to advance geoprocessing software capabilities for mission application development," said Stu Shea, Northrop Grumman IT TASC vice president and director, Space Intelligence. "The C/JMTK program provides the means to deliver on the promise of COTS integration, open systems, and standards and open the door to DoD-wide command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) interoperability."

Phase one of the contract will involve the construction of the C/JMTK software developers' toolkit. This will involve DII COE segmentation, cross-platform support, and legacy system support. Once that activity is complete, the toolkit will be made available to all DII COE programs and contractors. Phase two will consist of the rollout of the C/JMTK toolkit into mission applications-a significant step forward in delivered capabilities.

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About Northrop Grumman IT

Northrop Grumman IT is a trusted provider of advanced IT solutions, engineering, and business services for government and commercial clients. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, Northrop Grumman IT has more than 22,000 employees and sales of nearly $4 billion. The company's expertise spans such areas as information systems integration, C4ISR and enterprise hardware and software solutions, training and simulation, base and range support, signals intelligence, space systems, and specialized scientific engineering and technical services.

About ESRI

For more than 30 years, ESRI has been the leading developer of GIS software with more than 300,000 clients worldwide. ESRI also provides consulting, implementation, and technical support services. In addition to its headquarters in California, ESRI has regional offices throughout the United States, international distributors in more than 90 countries, and more than 1,400 business partners. ESRI's goal is to provide users with comprehensive tools to help them quickly and efficiently manage and use geographic information to make a real difference in the world around them.

ESRI, the ESRI globe logo, ArcGIS, GIS by ESRI, www.esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of ESRI in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective trademark owners.

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Source: Material used in press releases is often supplied by external sources and used as is.