Northrop Grumman announced that it has signed a cooperative agreement with Kockums AB and its parent company, Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft (HDW), under which Kockums will join a team assembled by Northrop Grumman's Ship Systems sector to compete for the U.S. Navy's Focused Mission Vessel Study. This study is expected to result in the development and construction of a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), one element of the DD(X) family of surface combatants planned for construction by the Navy during the next quarter century.

The cooperative agreement between the parties covers business opportunities for the design, development, construction and sale of Visby-class ships and/or derivative technology to the U.S. government for the LCS and other U.S. programs, and for sales to friendly international governments through the Foreign Military Sales program. Subject to Swedish government approval, Northrop Grumman and the U.S. government will be able to take full advantage of more than seven years of Swedish investment in developing an all-composite, corvette-sized, monohull ship. This leading-edge vessel technology combines unique stealth, speed, modularity and survivability characteristics in a way that will revolutionize the effectiveness of small ships in littoral warfare and on other missions. Kockums has designed and built the first Visby-class corvette, which is presently undergoing combat systems installation and sea trials. Early indications are that the ship will meet or exceed expectations in every area.Northrop Grumman Ship Systems leads an international industrial team that won a competition for a $2.9 billion (U.S.) program in April 2002 to complete the system design for the Navy's advanced, 21st century surface combatant, DD(X). This family of ships includes destroyers, cruisers and littoral combat ships, as well as technology to be backfitted into the Navy's existing fleets of Aegis-equipped destroyers and cruisers.