Northrop Grumman Corporation and Rohde & Schwarz signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Berlin Security Conference in Germany to collaborate on turn-key solutions for 5th-to-4th generation interoperability.

The MOU addresses current and future challenges to connect European and U.S. assets in the dimensions air, ground and sea.

The agreement establishes a framework that enables the parties to strengthen technology development for more resilient, trusted secure multifunction capabilities to connect platforms across air, space, land and sea, including connectivity for air-to-air and air-to-ground communications. Additionally, they will collaborate on new opportunities that complement each party’s strengths, delivering best-of-breed solutions in support of Germany’s National Security Strategy, NATO goals and European Union defense objectives.

Adil Karim, vice president, strategy and mission solutions, Northrop Grumman explained, “Working together with German industry underscores the importance of rapidly developing solutions that European forces need today. This collaborative framework brings together decades of experience needed to protect our allied defense forces against today’s multi-layered threats.”

Hansjörg Herrbold, vice president secure communications, Rohde & Schwarz, concluded, “Interoperability between existing and next generation platforms is an essential success factor for the development of European security and defense capabilities. With our large footprint in ground and air based communication systems, we are looking forward to connecting the most advanced platforms by bringing together both companies’ experience and capabilities.”