The Precision Products Division of the Northrop Corp. in Norwood has secured a significant $1.9 million federal military contract that is expected to generate up to 100 new jobs.
Announced by company spokesman Frank Daly of Duxbury, the contract tasks the Norwood facility with designing and building 20 advanced guidance systems for military aircraft.
The win marks a historic milestone for the local plant. According to Daly, this contract provides the division with its first opportunity to design and manufacture an entire guidance system from scratch rather than merely building individual components. “It’s indicative of a new direction for us,” Daly noted.
Advanced Technology and Multi-Service Applications
Unlike traditional gyroscope-based equipment, the newly designed guidance system relies on advanced computing technology to determine aircraft height and location. The systems are slated for deployment across multiple branches of the United States Armed Forces—including the Navy, Army, and Air Force—for use in diverse aircraft such as the F-14 fighter jet, experimental vertical takeoff aircraft, and various military helicopters. Additionally, the Norwood facility is pioneering the development of next-generation laser gyroscopes that utilize light beams instead of traditional spinning mechanical wheels.
Rapid Workforce Expansion and Facility Growth
The new defense contract accelerates an already booming period of local hiring. Having added 200 workers since April, total employment across Northrop’s six Norwood buildings has climbed to 1,700 personnel. With hiring slated to begin immediately for engineers followed by production staff, Daly projected that overall plant employment would comfortably surpass 2,000 workers by 1987, when full-scale production on the contract is scheduled to commence.
To accommodate this aggressive growth, Northrop added a seventh local facility in July by leasing 79,000 square feet of space—with an option for an additional 100,000 square feet—at Brookside Park on Route 1 near the Walpole town line. Prior to this expansion, the division operated four facilities off Morse Street and a gyroscope plant on Washington Street situated in the former Norwood Press bindery.
The local expansion mirrors broader corporate success. In 1984, parent company Northrop Corp. recorded net earnings of $167 million on total sales of $3.69 billion, driven by record sales of $1.3 billion in guidance, navigation, and military electronic systems. Daly attributed this soaring demand to the military’s growing emphasis on retrofitting existing aircraft and vehicles with advanced navigational technology.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
More Norwood Business History
-
Norwood Plastics Firm Starts Full Operations-This Day In Norwood History-July 21, 1969,
The dawn of a new era in Norwood’s industrial landscape unfolded on July 21, 1969, as the Gamma Platics Corporation embarked on its full-scale manufacturing operations. Nestled at 370 Lenox St., this pioneering plastics firm was poised to revolutionize the industry with its custom injection molding services. At the helm of this innovative venture stood…
-
Polaroid Begins Production At Norwood Complex-July 9, 1969
In 1969, Polaroid began producing goods in their newly constructed facility on the former Forbes Estate in Norwood.
-
Polaroid Corporation Conducts Site Studies on 220-Acre Forbes Estate in Norwood and Westwood-August 8, 1967
Partnering with landscape architects Sasaki, Dawson and Demay, the Polaroid Corp. is actively surveying its 220-acre Forbes Estate in Norwood and Westwood to draft revised facility and manufacturing plans.
-
Norwood Shoe Warehouse To Be Built-July 16, 1964
As the sun rose over the quaint town of Norwood on July 16, 1964, a sense of excitement and anticipation filled the air. The residents of this charming community were abuzz with news that Consolidated Shoe Inc., a prominent manufacturer of several renowned brands, had finally reached an agreement to construct a state-of-the-art warehouse on…
-
Medical Center Plans Expected-July 10, 1964
The development of a proposed medical building on Walpole Street reached a significant milestone on July 10, 1964, as organizers announced that final preliminary plans were approximately one month from completion. ⠀ Once this rough draft is finalized, the project will be handed over to an architect—who had not yet been designated as of that…
-
James H. McManus Ice Cream Company Opens Norwood Pilot Store-July 8, 1964
In June 1964, the James H. McManus Ice Cream Company opened a new pilot location in Norwood, featuring over 40 flavors of traditional ice cream, sherbets, and water ices.
-
Developer Frank R. Simoni Seeks Zoning Change for New Shopping Center Project-August 21, 1963
Developer Frank R. Simoni has petitioned the Norwood Planning Board for a zoning change on Walpole Street to construct a shopping center, prompting a public hearing set for September 9.
-
Sears, Roebuck to Build Store In Norwood Shopping Center-May 22, 1960
On May 22, 1960, a crowd of civic, business, and government leaders gathered beneath a bright late‑spring sky at the Norwood Shopping Center, where a ceremonial shovel of earth marked the beginning of a major new chapter in local retail life. The groundbreaking celebrated the start of construction on a 31,500‑square‑foot Sears, Roebuck and Co.…
-
Norwood’s Thriving Business Scene-August 4, 1955
A look back at Norwood in 1955 reveals a thriving local economy filled with bustling auto dealerships like Boch Nash, popular eateries like Green Jade, and trusted neighborhood hardware stores and beauty salons.
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.