WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Roger Wicker and Thad Cochran and Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant today praised an agreement reached between Northrop Grumman and Jackson County to extend the lease for the Moss Point Unmanned Systems Center for another eight years.

Wicker, Cochran, and Bryant worked with the Jackson County Board of Supervisors, Jackson County Economic Development Foundation, Jackson County Port Authority and Mississippi Development Authority to encourage the Northrop Grumman lease extension in order to help preserve defense-related jobs in South Mississippi and strengthen Mississippi’s position as a leader in unmanned aerial systems. With final approval, the lease will extend to December 2023.

“Northrop Grumman is an important partner for Jackson County and the state in creating good-paying jobs and encouraging economic growth,” Wicker said. “I am pleased that an agreement has been reached to ensure that the company will continue to call Mississippi home for years to come. Its facility in Moss Point has produced unmanned aircraft such as the Global Hawk, which provides vital intelligence capabilities for our troops throughout the world. This extension guarantees that Mississippi will continue to play a leading role in aerospace and defense.”

“The presence of Northrop Grumman in Jackson County builds on the reputation of South Mississippi as a friendly region for business and defense manufacturing. I am pleased that the company worked with us to extend its commitment in Mississippi,” said Cochran, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and its Subcommittee on Defense. “I hope that this development also creates opportunities for the company to expand its Mississippi workforce over the course of this lease extension.”

“Northrop Grumman is known globally for its superior aerospace products, and we are proud that they will continue to call Mississippi home for many years to come,” said Gov. Bryant. “They develop some of the most advanced and sophisticated unmanned aerial systems in the skies today, and they are strengthening Mississippi’s position as an aerospace leader while protecting freedom around the world.”

Barry Cumbest, president of the Jackson County Board of Supervisors, said the agreement further validates Jackson County’s reputation as a prime location for globally recognized aerospace companies.

“Northrop Grumman’s decision to extend this agreement is a testament to the company’s confidence in the economic development vision and leadership in Jackson County. We look forward to building upon our shared success with Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems for years to come,” said Cumbest.

A resolution concurring with the agreement was approved Wednesday morning by the Jackson County Port Authority. The resolution is expected to come before the Jackson County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 7 for final approval.

The Moss Point Unmanned Systems Center, which currently employs about 70 people, began unmanned aircraft production in 2006. It is the final assembly site for the Navy Fire Scout unmanned helicopter and for wiring harness installation for the Air Force Global Hawk and the Navy Triton unmanned aircraft.