C2 (Command and Control) - Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Connectivity for Long Range Command and Control

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 13:00:00 GMT

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. – Sept. 8, 2021 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) successfully demonstrated a data link for connecting aircraft in highly contested airspace for long-range command and control through an open architecture network. This experiment is a critical milestone in the evolution of a distributed multi-domain battle management command and control architecture that maintains decision superiority for the U.S. military and allies.

“Northrop Grumman technologies, built on advanced low size, weight and power electronics, enable integrated and secure communications across domains supporting the Department of Defense’s JADC2 strategy,” said Tom Pieronek, chief technology officer and vice president, research & technology, Northrop Grumman. “Northrop Grumman remains committed to delivering capabilities that maintain strategic advantage for the U.S. and its allies across all domains and against all adversaries.”

The flight demonstration is the first integration of a new mission-specific military transceiver, multi-level security data switches, and open architecture wide-area networking, utilizing commercial technology into the observe, orient, decide and act loop – the decision-making chain for threat engagements.

This is a key step toward harnessing the power of a network into critical domains for national security missions. The flight demonstration linked the Scaled Composites Proteus, a High-Altitude, Long-Endurance research aircraft, with a Firebird, an unmanned air vehicle with the capability to be flown manned, through an advanced line-of-sight data link with low probability of intercept/low probability of detection characteristics that includes anti-jam properties.

The aircraft established a link, performed a simulated ISR mission, and connected back to a cloud-based 5G network testbed through a novel prototype multi-level security switch.

Northrop Grumman’s advanced battle management technologies help warfighters and branches of the military easily communicate and securely share mission critical data across air, land, sea and space to speed up decision timelines and maintain a strategic advantage in an age of data-driven conflict.

Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide. Our 90,000 employees define possible every day using science, technology and engineering to create and deliver advanced systems, products and services.

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Northrop Grumman Awarded UK Ministry of Defence C2 Digital Enterprise Agreement

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 13:00:00 GMT

LONDON – July 21, 2021 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has signed a digital enterprise agreement for Interoperable C4I Services (ICS) and command and control (C2) technical consultancy with Defence Digital, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) organisation responsible for making sure that effective digital and information technology is put into the hands of the military and business front line.

ICS combines an open architecture and a unique set of track management and situational awareness capabilities to facilitate the creation, visualisation and distribution of the common operating picture. This picture provides military commanders the information they need to plan, execute and manage military operations.

“Northrop Grumman in the UK has a long history of providing enhanced value and commercial flexibility for the MoD,” said Katharine Sealy, director, National Security Solutions, Northrop Grumman UK. “Our agile approach to C2 software development and open architectural design philosophy helps to ensure that UK forces maintain an information advantage.”

ICS is developed and supported in the UK, and it has continuously evolved to provide the core C2 systems for UK MoD and NATO HQs/ships for over 25 years. It is also fielded by many other nations to power their national C2 systems.

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Northrop Grumman to Develop C5ISR and Control Systems for US Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutters

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 13:00:00 GMT

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – June 8, 2021 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been awarded a newly expanded role as systems integrator for C5ISR and control systems on the U.S. Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC), by Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG), the prime contractor for the OPC program.

Artist’s rendition of USCGC ARGUS, the first vessel of the Heritage Class Fleet of Offshore Patrol Cutters. (Image courtesy Eastern Shipbuilding Group)

In a newly expanded role as C5ISR systems integrator, Northrop Grumman is responsible for integrating all cyber hardened C5ISR systems, including command and control, communications, navigation and the shipboard computer networking systems.

"With C5ISR and control system test and integration underway, the ESG-Northrop Grumman team hasn’t missed a beat,” said Todd Leavitt, vice president, maritime systems and integration, Northrop Grumman. “The effort and resiliency shown by our teammates at Eastern Shipbuilding Group has been outstanding.”

Northrop Grumman’s responsibilities for the OPC platform include the integrated bridge, navigation, command and control, computing network, data distribution, machinery control, and propulsion control systems, cyber/information assurance, testing and integration work.

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Northrop Grumman Communications Systems Provide Foundational Elements for JADC2

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 13:00:00 GMT

Anticipating how adversaries are likely to employ new operational concepts and systems has always been important, but in an era of rapid digital transformation, it’s fundamental and critical to all U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) efforts. Understanding how these adversaries are harnessing new technology, responding with new operational concepts and enhanced lethality in accelerated timelines is how DOD intends to retain a strategic advantage on the battlefield.

Northrop Grumman’s Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) gateway system recently reached 200,000 combat operational flight hours since its first deployment with the U.S. Air Force in 2008.

There is no doubt that we are facing new and increasingly sophisticated threats from near-peer adversaries, underscoring the importance of innovation in order to maintain an advantage in an age of technology-driven warfare.

One DOD initiative, Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2), sits at the center of technology-driven modernization. The DOD summarizes JADC2 as “an effort to integrate sensors with shooters across all domains, commands and services.”

With its focus on integration, it is clear that communications and networking capabilities will be essential to help DOD realize its vision for JADC2. As JADC2 seeks to connect communications nodes, shooters and platforms across all domains and branches of the military, cyber-secure, integrated, open architecture communications capabilities will be critical.

For 60 years, Northrop Grumman has been a leader in the design, development and delivery of end-to-end communications and advanced networking capabilities sought out by U.S. and allied military forces. Today, the company’s communications systems are already bringing forward the integrated, open and advanced networking capabilities needed to support the foundation of JADC2.

Northrop Grumman’s gateway offerings—communications systems that help the DOD securely share mission information across military branches—are one example of how the company is already enhancing the flow of data and strengthening the overall command-and-control structure of the DOD.

Northrop Grumman’s gateway systems have an extensive track record of helping interconnect branches of the military. The company’s leading Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) gateway system recently reached 200,000 combat operational flight hours since its first deployment with the U.S. Air Force in 2008.

Northrop Grumman’s BACN offerings have been one of the Defense Department’s most enduring capabilities, delivering interoperable voice and data communications between boots on the ground and pilots in the sky since 2008. Northrop Grumman’s BACN gateway system and sustainment efforts, combined with both manned and unmanned aircraft, provide warfighters an essential round-the-clock capability—enabling the enhanced communications and situational awareness picture needed to defeat threats in the most challenging battlefield environments.

Northrop Grumman’s BACN offering is a high-altitude, airborne communications gateway that translates and distributes imagery, voice and tactical data from disparate elements—enhancing situational awareness communications and coordination for joint warfighters operating across space, air, land and sea. It is also one of the first battle-tested gateway systems to enable warfighters and platforms to effectively communicate and securely share data across all branches of the DOD.

Over the course of more than 15,500 missions, enabled by sustainment support that delivers uninterrupted mission readiness, the BACN gateway system has a mission availability rate greater than 98 percent. Northrop Grumman takes an agile approach to introduce new capabilities on the BACN gateway system such as the integration of new automation software, implementation of agile software development processes, and the incorporation of enhanced military standard communications protocols—all to meet emerging mission demands.

The open architecture design and cyber-secure processing of the BACN gateway system, coupled with its ability to easily integrate advanced technologies and proven track record of success, make this system well suited to meet the needs of JADC2.

According to David Deptula, dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, “BACN’s operational success suggests that it, or similar data translators, could help build an ethereal nervous system for JADC2.”

Northrop Grumman is also bringing forward a new family of gateway systems that are designed to enable communications and cross domain translations between multiple beyond line-of-sight and line-of-sight networks and datalinks—inclusive of 5th-to-4th generation capabilities. The development of these systems includes a focus on cyber-secure and integrated functions such as cloud computing, machine learning and secure and ethical artificial intelligence, among other capabilities.

Another example of Northrop Grumman’s JADC2 offerings can be found in the company’s Communications, Navigation and Identification (CNI) system. Northrop Grumman pioneered the design of its CNI system—currently used across a number of high-profile DOD platforms—to provide more than 27 fully-integrated communications, navigation and identification functions.

Over the years, the company’s CNI systems have been battle-tested and proven to enhance warfighters’ situational awareness; improve interoperability across platforms; adapt to emerging mission demands; and securely distribute critical information needed for mission success.

The software-defined nature of Northrop Grumman’s CNI system allow for continuous enhancements and its signature design will open up the company’s CNI offering to provide new functionality, such as the use of third-party capabilities that will help meet the advanced networking needs of JADC2 efforts.

A third example of Northrop Grumman’s JADC2 offerings is tied to the U.S. Air Force Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) initiative. According to the Air Force, ABMS is the services’ primary contribution to Joint All-Domain Command and Control efforts.

In support of ABMS, Northrop Grumman is rapidly working on developing and fielding a gatewayONE prototype by leveraging its proven Freedom Radio and gateway technologies. Freedom multifunction, software-defined radios are the heart of the F-22 integrated avionics suite and F-35 communications, navigation and identification system.

On December 9, 2020, Northrop Grumman’s Freedom Radio supporting ABMS efforts, successfully integrated with an attritableONE platform and enabled 5th-to-5th generation aircraft communications. According to the Air Force, “…this test was the latest demonstration of the transformative warfighting impact of the open architecture underpinning the Advanced Battle Management System.”

The signature design and open architecture functionality of the Freedom Radio supporting gatewayONE will enable 5^th- to-4th generation platforms to communicate and extend capabilities to enable multiple 5th generation platform types to share and integrate data, helping make network-centric operations and JADC2 a reality for the DOD.

As the DOD moves forward to network-centric operations, Northrop Grumman is well suited to strengthen the DOD’s ability to maintain a strategic advantage in the new age of technology-driven warfare, supporting the open and integrated communications architecture needed for JADC2. Visit Connecting The Joint Force As One to learn more.

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Northrop Grumman Demonstrates C2 Success in Multinational NATO Exercise

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 15:00:00 GMT

LONDON – Feb. 15, 2021 – Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) UK team successfully demonstrated its innovative command and control (C2) system in a denied satellite communications (SATCOM) environment during NATO’s Coalition Warrior Interoperability eXercise (CWIX 2020). The fully distributed virtual event connected force labs in the UK and the U.S. across the classified Combined Federated Battle Laboratories Network to test tactics and technology in a range of scenarios and SATCOM-denied environments.

As the industry lead for this task supporting CWIX 2020, Northrop Grumman UK teamed with Dstl and Thales UK to create a simulated network environment. Northrop Grumman installed its Interoperable C4I Services (ICS) product, to deliver track management capabilities on this simulated alternative beyond-line-of-sight communications network.

“The successful experiment, delivered under the Serapis framework, included a military track management capability applicable to both the maritime and land domains,” said Ben Palmer, group director, Northrop Grumman. “Northrop Grumman’s UK team demonstrated their ability to deliver, integrate and operate systems for NATO forces to fully test SATCOM operations in advanced, real-life scenarios."

SATCOM remains essential to Joint, All Domain, Command and Control (JADC2) but faces challenges in a denied, degraded or disrupted space environment. When disruptions occur, joint forces must maintain the ability to share time-sensitive information such as a common operating picture on alternative beyond-line-of-sight communications networks, despite their lower bandwidth, higher-latency and inconsistent quality-of-service compared to communications satellites.

Northrop Grumman’s ICS is used by over 3,000 customers globally and is based on the Common Operating Environment (COE) software on which systems such as the Global Command and Control System are built. ICS ensures interoperability with other COE-based systems and allows additional third-party applications to be incorporated for customers with mission-specific service requirements.

Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defence and cyberspace to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide. Our 97,000 employees define possible every day using science, technology and engineering to create and deliver advanced systems, products and services.

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Northrop Grumman Short Range Air Defense System Selected as Command and Control for US Forces to Counter Aerial Threats

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 13:00:00 GMT

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – July 8, 2020 – Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control (FAAD C2) system has been selected by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) as the interim command and control system for future Counter-Small Unmanned Aerial System (C-sUAS) procurements.

The decision follows the findings of a service board established by the DOD’s Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-sUAS) Office to evaluate and provide an order-of-merit list for “best-of-breed” systems to counter small drones. The down-select board was comprised of representatives from the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Special Operations Command, and senior representatives from the acquisition, technical, operational and other communities. FAAD C2 will serve as the current joint common C-sUAS C2 platform while an enduring solution is developed.

“Our FAAD C2 has been saving lives at Forward Operating Bases and locations around the world since 2005,” said Kenn Todorov, vice president and general manager, combat systems and mission readiness, Northrop Grumman. “FAAD C2 continuously evolves to defend against new threats like small unmanned aerial systems and will continue to be the gold standard for protection of our troops whether stationed at bases or on the move.”

FAAD C2 is a battle-proven C2 system, deployed in several theaters of operation for the C-UAS and C-RAM (Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar) missions for its proven performance and flexibility that enables easy integration with available sensors, effectors and warning systems to launch rapid, real-time defense against short range and maneuvering threats. It also has been selected as the C2 system for the Army’s Initial Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (IM-SHORAD) platforms. FAAD-C2 is built on the open architecture common to the Northrop Grumman all-domain C4I solution ecosystem and will ultimately converge into the US Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS).

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Advanced Air and Missile Defense, in the Hands of Soldiers

Wed, 27 May 2020 13:00:00 GMT

It’s a cold December morning at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, and two surrogate cruise missile targets have just been launched, one after the other. They are flying separate courses among the jagged San Andres and Sacramento mountains toward soldiers in a U.S. Army Air and Missile Defense unit at a test site called TAC-2 – Tactical Command Post 2.

An interceptor missile is launched by U.S. Army soldiers at White Sands Missile Range during Flight Test 5 (FT-5), the most sophisticated and difficult development test yet for the Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS), developed by Northrop Grumman. IBCS was used to continuously track two incoming surrogate cruise missile threats and launch two interceptor missiles to successfully destroy them.

These sophisticated targets precisely mimic real cruise missile threats and can take advantage of this terrain to hide from the radars and sensors commanders have positioned in the area. This can create gaps in tracking that make the job of interceptor missiles or other defensive weapons more difficult – you can’t hit what you can’t see.

Today, though, their maneuvers won’t enable them to evade detection. This is Flight Test 5 (FT-5), the most sophisticated and difficult development test yet for the Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS), developed by Northrop Grumman.

High above the range, sensors aboard U.S. Air Force F-35 fighter aircraft see and acquire the two surrogate missiles. IBCS integrates the aircraft sensor data with that of available ground sensors, including Sentinel, Patriot weapon system and U.S. Marine Corps TPS-59 radars. All share information via the IBCS Integrated Fire Control Network (IFCN). As one sensor loses sight of the threats – and each will at some point – the targets are acquired by other sensors on the IFCN, enabling IBCS to create a precise, uninterrupted composite track of each missile’s movements.

With data from every sensor, IBCS produces a single integrated air picture on the screens of the air defense soldiers at TAC-2. They see every change in altitude and direction as the two surrogate missiles paint tracks across their screens. Because IBCS enables joint weapons as well as joint sensors, the defenders at the controls can select the best effector to use against these targets. Today, the soldiers are about to launch two Patriot Advanced Capability 2 (PAC-2) interceptor missiles.

“Without IBCS, all those different sensors operate independently, creating opportunities for threats to avoid detection as they fly to a target,” explained Northrop Grumman IBCS Program Director Mark Rist. “Without being integrated onto a network, these sensors produce a more ambiguous, less-clear air picture, making engagements of threat systems more challenging.”

He is monitoring FT-5 from miles away, in the test’s mission control room. The soldiers at TAC-2 can be heard on the radio, calm but urgent voices reporting “target acquired” by airborne sensor, and talking of the “IP” or intercept point, and “kill box.” It’s only been moments since the threats were launched, but now comes “Free to engage … Missile away … Missile away …”

One, then another PAC-2 interceptor missile is launched by the soldiers. IBCS is not only able to launch the missiles, but also plays a critical role in the engagement by actively closing the fire control loop and providing in-flight updates as the PAC-2s converge on their targets. The surrogate cruise missile targets are closing in and can now be seen on video in the control room – and then suddenly they can’t: One, then the other disappears in a ball of fire as the PAC-2s destroy them.

Cheers erupted in the control room, and those of Rist and his team may have been loudest among the many generals, colonels and visiting officials that day at White Sands. After years of effort, working closely and constantly with soldiers, FT-5 fully demonstrated IBCS’s unprecedented capability to integrate sensors and effectors to detect, track and simultaneously engage multiple targets in flight.

“Information is ammunition, and IBCS is providing soldiers with more,” Rist said. “We brought a lot of things together in this development test. It was the first including joint operations with the Air Force F-35 and Marine Corps radar systems, the first with Air Defense Artillery soldiers at the controls, and the first involving software developed using our Agile methodology.”

FT-5 was the latest in a series of test successes, and further evidence of the program’s maturity as soldiers train on IBCS equipment in preparation for an important Limited User Test (LUT) this spring.

“I’m very proud of these soldiers and of the system’s performance,” said Colonel Phil Rottenborn, Army IAMD project manager. “This was the first time soldiers conducted a live engagement using IBCS in a developmental test, and they showed we are ready to go into the operational test phase.”

“Success!” said Col. Tony Behrens, Army Capability Manager for the Air and Missile Defense (AMD) Command, and a nearly 26-year career Air Defense Artillery (ADA) officer. “It showed me that an Army operator – not an engineer or software developer – can sit at that console and do his or her job. I am very comfortable and confident about the path we’re on.”

IBCS enables soldiers to be even more effective by integrating all the systems’ data and providing a common command-and-control (C2). Soldiers will only need to learn to use the IBCS C2, instead of spending time becoming specialists on only one or two of a dozen different sensor and weapon systems. That enhances IBCS’s already impressive battlefield survivability, because soldiers will be capable of using any of the available sensors with any available weapon systems at any command post connected to the self-connecting, self-healing IFCN.

Also, less time will be spent in recurrent training, making more time available for teaching operators defense strategy and how to fight. The IBCS “every sensor; best effector” concept gives commanders greater flexibility in defense design, allowing them to position resources for greatest coverage in far less time essentially helping to change the way soldiers see and fight air battle.

Northrop Grumman’s open-architecture system-of-systems approach to IBCS eases the integration of any new or legacy sensor and effector systems, which is important for U.S. joint operations and to foreign governments. Poland has an agreement with the U.S. Army to purchase IBCS for modernization of the nation’s WISLA medium-range air defense system, and other countries have expressed interest as well.

With the success of FT-5, Northrop Grumman will now focus on the Army’s Limited User Test planned for later this year, followed by the low-rate initial production and full-rate production phases of the system, to field IBCS to Army air defenders in fiscal year 2021.

Behrens said the Army must have the IBCS capabilities to be effective and successful in future combat operations. “To me, it’s beyond critical,” he said. “We’re not just giving soldiers a new piece of equipment, a new piece of gear. We’re going to give them an entirely new way of operating on the battlefield that is so much more efficient. But it has to start with the system that enables you to do that.”

IBCS may also be the Army’s first big step toward multi-domain convergence – the next level above integration.

“Enabling multi-domain – or more accurately, all-domain – operations is vital to ensuring battlefield advantage and superiority,” said Brig. Gen. Brian Gibson, director of the Army’s AMD Cross-Functional Team, at an Association of the U.S. Army event in early March. “When successfully fielded, IBCS will be one of the Army’s pathfinder capabilities into what is becoming a top priority for our military leaders: joint, all-domain command and control.”

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The Power of Short Range Air Defense

Bridget Slayen — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 18:45:00 GMT

The Counter-Rocket Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) system of systems was deployed in 2005 to address a joint urgent operational need to defend our troops against rocket, artillery and mortar attacks in four primary pillars: sense, warn, intercept and respond. Countless soldiers deployed over the past decade and a half have heard the jarring yet familiar “Incoming! Incoming!” siren warning in advance of an attack, while behind the scenes, the system developed and executed an intercept engagement plan. The C-RAM system is credited with saving hundreds of lives in theater, providing the precious seconds needed to take cover or lie down.

Northrop Grumman was selected to develop and integrate a directed energy prototype solution on a Stryker combat vehicle (DE M-SHORAD) for the U.S. Army to better protect highly mobile frontline units.

At the center of the C-RAM system is an enhanced version of the Forward Area Air Defense (FAAD) Command and Control (C2) software. FAAD C2 is the U.S. Army’s short range air defense (SHORAD) C2 program of record. It was originally fielded to defend maneuver forces against attacks by manned fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. The combined software, now known as FAAD/C-RAM C2, is what senses and confirms the threat, provides early warning to the specific impact area at risk, tracks the threat trajectory, and engages the in-bound threats. Northrop Grumman has been the prime contractor for FAAD/C-RAM C2 responsible for developing and fielding this capability at home and across the globe since 1986.

FAAD/C-RAM C2 is an open, modular system that allows easy and rapid integration with available sensors, effectors and warning systems to enable rapid, real-time defense against short range and maneuvering threats. FAAD/C-RAM C2 is integrated with more than 20 different effectors and close to 15 sensor systems, as well as a number of additional external communication systems. It continues to demonstrate rapid, cost-effective integration of new systems to deliver greater situational awareness and protection as the operational environment evolves. Besides protecting vital military bases overseas, it also provides protection to cities like the U.S. national capital region, Washington D.C.

Extending the Mission - C-UAS

Even though FAAD/C-RAM C2 capabilities were developed as solutions to specific customer needs, they continue to evolve as a counter to new and emerging threats.

Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) is at the forefront of air defense and brings new challenges to the battlefield. There is no one-size-fits-all response to address these new threats. FAAD/C-RAM C2 is the U.S. Army’s C2 solution for C-UAS, currently fielded and engaging UAS daily with multiple effector systems. FAAD/C-RAM C2 is continuing to evolve to integrate new C-UAS sensors and effectors onto the network, including electronic warfare and directed energy systems to support this growing mission.

Northrop Grumman recently proved the ability of its Bushmaster Chain Guns and advanced medium caliber ammunition to destroy a drone during recent live fire testing.

FAAD/C-RAM C2 was recently the main C2 system for the Army’s Maneuver and Fires Integration Experiment (MFIX), an annual event at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. There, military and industry leaders showcased their latest technologies and capabilities aimed to fill gaps in long-range fires and maneuver short-range air defense. Among those new C-UAS capabilities that were integrated with FAAD/C-RAM C2 and demonstrated at MFIX were more portable, compact directed energy weapons systems.

Another example is the Army’s Mobile Low, Slow Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Integrated Defense Systems (MLIDS), a solution that has spent the last year testing at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. MLIDS is composed of two vehicles using FAAD/C-RAM C2 to cue, track, disrupt and destroy targets, including UAS. FAAD/C-RAM C2 also deploys and directs a one-time use attack UAS from the MLIDS vehicle that acts as a maneuverable missile. It’s a UAS for the C-UAS mission.

FAAD/C-RAM C2 also recently successfully tracked, engaged and defeated a UAS during the recent IM-SHORAD Weapon Safety Performance Test at White Sands Missile Range, the first successful engagement with a Longbow Hellfire missile from a vehicle that was using an onboard sensor. Also in the works, FAAD/C-RAM C2’s integration with Northrop Grumman’s capability to support the full C-UAS kill chain with lethal and nonlethal systems, including our own Bushmaster® Chain Guns® with advanced medium caliber ammunition (Programmable Air Bursting Munitions, Proximity Fuzed and Guided) and the Mobile Acquisition Cueing and Effector (M-ACE) system.

What Comes Next – M-SHORAD and IBCS

The SHORAD mission is gaining new emphasis as the Army modernizes its capabilities to protect maneuver forces around the globe. FAAD/C-RAM C2 is the Army’s directed solution for the initial maneuver solution (IM-SHORAD), as the Army continues to develop a longer term enduring solution, Objective or OM-SHORAD. FAAD/C-RAM C2 is also the foundational command and control system for Northrop Grumman’s Directed Energy M-SHORAD prototype solution and our fully integrated, mobile end-to-end offering for OM-SHORAD.

FAAD/C-RAM C2 was developed for short range air defense, and this and many other capabilities will ultimately converge into a much bigger command and control – the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS). This will extend the battlespace to enable both short and extended range air defense operations and provide revolutionary multi-domain defense capabilities for U.S., joint and coalition forces to address and defeat the evolving threat.

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Northrop Grumman Selected for US Army Stryker Vehicle High Energy Laser Initiative

Fri, 02 Aug 2019 17:30:00 GMT

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Aug. 2, 2019 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been awarded a contract for the U.S. Army Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) directed energy prototyping initiative. The initiative includes integrating a directed energy weapon system on a Stryker vehicle as a pathfinding effort toward the U.S. Army M-SHORAD objective to provide more comprehensive protection of frontline combat units.

Northrop Grumman has been selected to develop and integrate a directed energy prototype solution on a Stryker combat vehicle for the U.S. Army to better protect highly mobile frontline units. The effort will culminate in a competitive performance checkout leading into a range demonstration that informs Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) requirements.

“Northrop Grumman is eager to leverage its portfolio of innovative, proven technologies and integration expertise to accelerate delivery of next-generation protection to our maneuver forces,” said Dan Verwiel, vice president and general manager, missile defense and protective systems, Northrop Grumman. “Our flexible, open systems approach offers an end-to-end solution for the Army’s growing and ever-changing mission requirements in today’s complex threat environment.”

Under the initiative from the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office and a contract from Kord Technologies, Northrop Grumman will build and integrate a suite of advanced sensors; target acquisition and tracking; a 50-kilowatt class laser system; and battle-tested command-and-control on an Army Stryker combat vehicle. The effort will culminate in a competitive performance checkout leading into a range demonstration that informs M-SHORAD requirements.

The directed energy M-SHORAD prototypes are part of the progression of an Army technology maturation initiative known as the Multi-Mission High Energy Laser (MMHEL).

The integrated platform allows early involvement with warfighter users to develop tactics, techniques, procedures and concepts of operations for future high energy laser weapons.

The Army’s future M-SHORAD protection for forward-deployed soldiers includes laser weapon systems as an effective complement to kinetic capabilities in countering rockets, artillery and mortars; unmanned aircraft systems; and other aerial threats.

The M-SHORAD directed energy prototyping initiative is managed by the U.S. Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, space, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. Please visit news.northropgrumman.com and follow us on Twitter, @NGCNews, for more information.

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Northrop Grumman to Showcase Integrated End-to-End Missile Defense Solutions at SMD Symposium

Fri, 02 Aug 2019 14:30:00 GMT

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Aug. 2, 2019 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) will be showcasing its robust portfolio of multi-domain air, space and missile defense solutions at next week’s Space and Missile Defense (SMD) Symposium.

Northrop Grumman’s technologies provide our customer with an end-to-end space and missile defense advantage against evolving threats. Visit Booth #601 at the SMD Symposium in Huntsville to learn more.

Located at Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville from Aug. 6-8, Northrop Grumman (Booth #601) will present advanced, end-to-end capabilities for layered protection against maneuvering, hypersonic and ballistic missile threats, as well as unmanned aerial systems and rocket, artillery and mortar fire.

“Our servicemen and servicewomen face an increasingly complex threat environment, particularly with the emergence of maneuvering re-entry vehicles and hypersonic missiles,” said Kenn Todorov, vice president, missile defense solutions, Northrop Grumman. “We’re investing and working now to ensure our customers can detect, engage and defeat these destructive weapons.”

For countering hypersonic threats, Northrop Grumman is maturing kinetic, non-kinetic, sensing, and command and control solutions to protect the homeland and regional forces against boost-glide and scramjet-powered missiles across all layers and ranges. The company’s portfolio extends from defense against ballistic missiles to short-range air defense against threats from slow-moving UAVs to fast fighters. Additionally, Northrop Grumman provides the test and evaluation community with short, medium, intermediate and intercontinental-range ballistic missile targets.

“Innovation and agility are the most critical aspects when supporting these national defense programs,” said Rich Straka, vice president, launch vehicles, Northrop Grumman. “We’re proud to be a proven partner in this arena providing the cutting edge developments in missile defense."

Northrop Grumman supports a number of critical space and missile defense programs for the U.S. Department of Defense. For instance, it has developed the US Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) to provide air defenders with unprecedented command, control, communications, battle management and situational awareness capabilities. It is competing to deliver the Army’s next-generation radar system, the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS). Northrop Grumman also supports national security space missions, and will be highlighting its flight-proven GEOStar-1 and ESPAStar spacecraft buses, and Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) for satellite servicing and space logistics.

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Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Advanced Capabilities at Northern Edge 2019

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 13:30:00 GMT

LINTHICUM, Md. – July 10, 2019 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), together with military partners at Northern Edge 2019, successfully displayed advanced capabilities in air-to-air, air-to-surface and maritime tactical scenarios that address key warfighting gaps in advanced strike; intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR); and electronic warfare.

Northrop Grumman’s reconfigurable flight test aircraft significantly reduces the technology development process, bringing advanced capabilities to warfighters faster, more affordably and reliably.

“Northrop Grumman is developing agile and affordable technologies that address the advanced strike, ISR and multi-domain command and control needs for our customers,” said Tom Jones, vice president and general manager, airborne C4ISR systems, Northrop Grumman. “Using reconfigurable flight-test aircraft outfitted with advanced sensors and cognitive artificial intelligence capability at events such as Northern Edge speeds up the development process significantly.”

Northern Edge is the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s biennial joint training exercise, held May 13-24 at the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex and the Gulf of Alaska. It involves all U.S. military services and agency partners, as well as virtual participants from stateside and overseas bases. The exercise is designed to enhance air warfare and interoperability among the services in a highly contested environment.

Celebrating 10 years of participation at Northern Edge this year, Northrop Grumman has consistently demonstrated leading technology capabilities at the joint military-industry exercise. Innovative solutions tested at earlier Northern Edge exercises include auto target recognition and combat identification; advanced electronic protection and attack; cognitive mission computing; maritime search and track; long-range surface-to-air missile detection; and infrared search and track.

Northrop Grumman also demonstrated Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) gateways and multi-level secure live, virtual and constructive training. Many of these capabilities are now fielded on U.S. platforms, providing a significant warfighting advantage to Air Force, Navy and Marine aircrews.

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Northrop Grumman Awarded $3.2 Billion Multi-Year Contract for 24 E-2D Aircraft

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 12:00:00 GMT

MELBOURNE, Fla. – April 11, 2019 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been awarded a multi-year contract modification to deliver an additional 24 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft to the U.S. Navy. The fixed-price-incentive-firm contract is valued at $3.2 billion; the contract also includes an option for nine additional foreign military sales aircraft. Production of the 24 U.S. Navy aircraft funded by the five-year contract is expected to be complete in 2026.

Northrop Grumman awarded $3.2 billion for 24 E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes to provide advanced early warning capability to the U.S. Navy. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy)

The E-2D is the U.S. Navy’s airborne early warning and command and control aircraft system. The carrier-based aircraft provides expanded battlespace awareness for carrier strike groups. Its two-generation leap in radar technology allows the E-2D to work with ship-, air- and land-based combat systems to track and defeat air, ship and cruise missiles at extended range. The aircraft can also be used in a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capacity for civilian emergency coordination.

“This aircraft continues to demonstrate its strategic value to our warfighters with early warning, command and control,” said Jane Bishop, vice president and integrated product team leader, manned airborne surveillance programs, Northrop Grumman. “With this contract, we’ll continue production of these highly specialized aircraft while delivering innovative solutions that outpace advancing threats over the life of the fleet.”

Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy

Under the current program of record Northrop Grumman has delivered 37 E-2D to the U.S. Navy to date, completing all major production milestones on time. In addition to the production and sustainment of the E-2D, Northrop Grumman will deliver a series of capability upgrades. The third upgrade is slated for release in fall 2019 and includes an aerial refueling capability to significantly extend the aircraft’s endurance.

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Northrop Grumman to Support Coast Guard Patrol Cutter C4ISR and Control

Mon, 04 Feb 2019 14:00:00 GMT

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Feb. 4, 2019 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been awarded production and long lead time materials (LLTM) contracts for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) C4ISR and control systems, by Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG).

The Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter. Rendering courtesy Eastern Shipbuilding Group.

Northrop Grumman will produce C4ISR and control systems for the lead OPC, USCGC Argus (WMSM-915), and procure LLTM for these systems on the second OPC, USCGC Chase (WMSM-916).

Northrop Grumman’s contributions to the OPC platform include the integrated bridge, navigation, command and control, computing network, data distribution, machinery control and propulsion control systems. It will perform C4ISR system integration at their OPC Test and Integration Facility in Charlottesville, and control systems integration at their Charlottesville Land-Based Test Facility.

“Northrop Grumman is a key member of our OPC team,” said Joey D’Isernia, president, ESG. “Together, we have established an innovative approach to C4ISR and control systems integration that supports ESG’s ability to deliver high quality, highly capable vessels on time and within budget.”

The OPC will provide the majority of the USCG offshore presence for homeland security missions, replacing the 210-foot and 270-foot Medium Endurance Cutters. On Sept. 28, the USCG exercised ESG’s option to produce the Argus and procure LLTM for the Chase.

“Northrop Grumman’s C4ISR and control systems will enhance the OPC platform’s capabilities to execute the Coast Guard’s missions,” said Todd Leavitt, vice president, maritime systems, Northrop Grumman. “We are proud to have supported ESG in the achievement of this major OPC milestone, and look forward to continuing success in our support of this vital USCG program.”

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Northrop Grumman to Provide Advanced Electronic Warfare Simulation and Training Capability to US Air Force

Thu, 20 Dec 2018 14:00:00 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Dec. 20, 2018 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has received a $450 million, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract award to deliver Joint Threat Emitter (JTE) systems to the United States Air Force. The JTE offers realistic warfighter training and provides a modern, reactive battlespace environment that trains military personnel to identify and counter enemy missile and artillery threats.

The Joint Threat Emitter provides a modern, reactive battlespace war environment, designed to help train military personnel to identify and effectively counter enemy missile or artillery threats.

Awarded by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the JTE Enhanced Delivery Initiative contract includes threat emitter units, mobile and fixed command and control units as well as spares, support equipment, testing and training.

JTE is a robust and ruggedized system that is easily relocated, reactive to aircrew/aircraft for fast-jet, fixed-wing and rotary-wing defensive measures, and can be rapidly reprogrammed with new threat parameters.

“Our Joint Threat Emitter systems enable aircrews to train in environments that match actual combat situations. These training systems are critical in preparing members of the military to respond to threats,” said Rob Fleming, vice president, land and avionics C4ISR, Northrop Grumman.

The JTE Enhanced Delivery Initiative includes foreign military sales to U.S. partner countries through the U.S. Air Force. All work under this contract will be performed in Buffalo.

Northrop Grumman’s JTE is the current U.S. Air Force program of record with 28 systems so far fielded both domestically and internationally.

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Northrop Grumman Showcases Autonomous Maritime Capabilities at U.S. Navy’s Advanced Naval Technology Exercise

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 14:00:00 GMT

NEWPORT, R.I. – Sept. 19, 2018 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) in collaboration with industry partners participated in the U.S. Navy’s Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) last month in Newport, Rhode Island. The company demonstrated advanced capabilities in the command and control of future unmanned maritime missions and the ability to more effectively deliver critical information to the warfighter in contested environments.

Northrop Grumman’s Fire Scout autonomous surrogate launches a sonobuoy as part the 2018 Advanced Naval Training Exercise in Newport, Rhode Island.

“Northrop Grumman’s expertise in networked sensors and advanced mission management for autonomous aircraft systems provides significant offensive and defensive capabilities for our customers in the maritime environment,” said Dan Redman, ANTX program manager, Northrop Grumman. “By showcasing how sensors can be airdropped from a Fire Scout surrogate, we are demonstrating future mission applications for this platform.”

Northrop Grumman’s seabed warfare capabilities were also highlighted at this year’s exercise. A central part of this demonstration was Northrop Grumman’s µSAS and real-time automated target recognition technologies. The µSAS is a low size, weight and power, high-performance payload that can operate off a man-portable autonomous underwater vehicle for real-time classification of mine-like objects.

“This technology is an example of leveraging digital transformation to rapidly provide software defined, hardware enabled capabilities to the fleet,” said Alan Lytle, vice president, undersea systems, Northrop Grumman. “Integration of unmanned and autonomous capabilities into the battle space reduces staffing required to conduct operations and risk to personnel, while supporting our nation’s continued undersea superiority.”

Low-SWAP, Information Assurance/Anti-Tamper Enabled, High-Performance, Interferometric Synthetic Aperture SONAR for Micro-UUVs

The three-day annual exercise was developed to demonstrate future Navy technologies in a collaborative, low-risk environment. Government, academia and industry participants gathered to showcase new capabilities to push the boundaries of what is possible in a complex environment. Northrop Grumman was partnered in the exercise with Physical Optics Corp, Ultra Electronics USSI, Hydroid, Optimum Solutions and Silvus.

Additional Notes for Defense Trade Reporters and Editors:

Northrop Grumman’s seabed warfare capabilities and multi-domain unmanned system integration were highlighted at the demonstration. These included advanced mission management, which enables centralized collaborative mission execution and control using multiple unmanned undersea vehicles (UUV) and unmanned surface vehicles as well as a Fire Scout surrogate unmanned aerial vehicle. The demonstration featured subsurface to above surface communications with cross-domain status, detection and tracking.

The exercise also highlighted the benefits of an open architecture approach, showcasing the ability to rapidly integrate multiple capabilities into a relevant mission scenario. Mission planning, control and monitoring will be achieved via a remote tactical operations center and from Northrop Grumman’s maritime operations center.

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Northrop Grumman Supports Final Critical Design Review for the USCG Offshore Patrol Cutter

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 15:30:00 GMT

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Aug. 6, 2018 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) supported Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) in their Final Critical Design Review (FCDR) for the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) Program.

The Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter. Rendering courtesy Eastern Shipbuilding Group.

Northrop Grumman serves as ESG’s C4ISR and control systems integrator for OPC, with responsibilities that include the integrated bridge, navigation, command and control, computing network, data distribution, machinery control, and propulsion control system design and production.

“Northrop Grumman has been a trusted member of the ESG team since the inception of the OPC program,” said Joey D’Isernia, president, ESG. “Their expertise in systems design and integration has contributed to ESG’s ongoing success in achieving the USCG’s requirements for the OPC platform.”

The OPC will be the Coast Guard’s newest class of cutters, with 25 ships planned for the class. It will provide the majority of offshore presence by the Coast Guard’s cutter fleet, assisting in missions ranging from combating transnational organized criminal networks off Central America to patrolling in the increasingly accessible Arctic.

“Northrop Grumman’s C4ISR and control systems architecture for OPC is innovative, affordable and open,” said Todd Leavitt, vice president, maritime systems, Northrop Grumman. “FCDR approval establishes a C4ISR/control systems design baseline that fulfills the newest generation of Coast Guard mission requirements, and is easily scalable for future platforms.”

FCDR was held on June 27-28, with OPC Production Readiness Review to follow later this year. Northrop Grumman will operate the OPC Test and Integration Facility for C4ISR, and the Land-Based Test Facility for control systems, at their facility in Charlottesville.

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Northrop Grumman, US Army Successfully Complete Integrated Air and Missile Defense Test at Fort Bliss

Mon, 09 Oct 2017 11:00:00 GMT

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Oct. 9, 2017 – U.S. Army soldiers have successfully completed a major developmental test of the Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC)-developed Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS), a cornerstone capability of the Army IAMD program.

The test, referred to as a Soldier Checkout Event (SCOE) with soldiers from Fort Bliss, Texas, and Fort Sill, Oklahoma, took place at Tobin Wells in Fort Bliss over three weeks in August. Air defenders used IBCS as the common command-and-control (C2) across battalion and battery-level operations using Sentinel and Patriot radars and Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC)-2, PAC-3 and PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors to fight 26 simulated air battles against hundreds of tactical ballistic missile threats. The SCOE concluded with a 72-hour endurance run of the system that included 18 additional air battles.

“Our flight tests in 2015 and 2016 proved the system could do what was previously thought to be undoable – that IBCS could provide the C2 for sensors and weapon systems never intended to work with each other,” said Dan Verwiel, vice president and general manager, missile defense and protective systems, Northrop Grumman. “The lessons learned from last year’s Limited User Test (LUT) have resulted in a substantially improved system. By all indications, IBCS performed exceedingly well; software deficiencies identified during the past LUT have been resolved.”

“This SCOE is an enterprise-level integration and test of IBCS and Army IAMD assets and capabilities with soldier operators,” said Barry Pike, Program Executive Officer, Missiles and Space, U.S. Army. “The event allows air defense warfighters the unprecedented opportunity to provide relevant system performance and interface feedback when the system is integrated with actual tactical hardware and software.”

Brig. Gen. Randall McIntire, commandant, Army Air Defense Artillery School, and chief, Air Defense Artillery, said, “I am very pleased with the significant progress made on IBCS over the last year. It is going to open up the aperture in terms of how we will be able to fight in the future. What we are working on today will be key for decades to come in our ability to combine offensive and defensive fires into one entity that is fast and agile.”

The SCOE was also a rigorous test for IBCS ease of use since soldiers who have never used the system before received only four weeks of training on the system prior to the start of the event. Even with simultaneous targets reaching hundreds during some of the air battles, the soldiers performed exceptionally well.

“We know we need this capability and we are going to be able to fight with the system. I think we are going to see exponential growth and progress in the future,” said McIntire.

In October, IBCS and Army IAMD will undergo the second phase of the SCOE at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, to look at live-air operational performance in a joint environment.

Foundational to IAMD transformation and key to the Army IAMD portfolio, the IBCS is managed by the IAMD Project Office, Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

IBCS replaces stove-piped legacy C2 systems to deliver a single integrated air picture and offer the flexibility to deploy smaller force packages. By integrating sensors and interceptors, IBCS provides wider area surveillance and broader protection areas. With its truly open systems architecture, IBCS enables incorporation of current and future sensors and weapon systems and interoperability with joint C2 and the ballistic missile defense system.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. Please visit news.northropgrumman.com and follow us on Twitter, @NGCNews, for more information.

U.S. Army air defenders fight simulated air battles inside an Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) engagement operations center.

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Providing Our Marines the Information Needed for Mission Success

Wed, 19 Jul 2017 17:45:00 GMT

Marines need a continuous stream of reliable, real-time command and control information to dominate the battlespace and defeat our enemies. For more than 20 years, Northrop Grumman’s Command and Control Personal Computer (C2PC) software has deployed with operational forces to serve their command and control needs. C2PC is the U.S. Marine Corps’ (USMC) highly portable, battle proven, command and control (C2) software and the most widely deployed C2 application in the world, being used in more than 40 countries.

(Photo credit: U.S. Marine Corps)

Northrop Grumman was recently selected to continue its work developing and maintaining the C2PC software and the Tactical Service Oriented Architecture (TSOA). The contract has a potential value of $93 million with work extending through 2021 if all ordering periods are exercised.

Marine combat operations are conducted by organizations called Marine Air Ground Task Forces (MAGTF), which bring together air and ground elements to accomplish specific missions. The MAGTF Command, Control, and System Applications (MC2SA) Command has undertaken an ambitious modernization program that will enable the Marine Corps to deter cyber security attacks and distribute critical tactical data quickly and securely. The Tactical Service Oriented Architecture (TSOA) provides the backbone infrastructure for this next-generation system. TSOA will distribute a wide variety of essential tactical data to specialized tactical applications across the entire MAGTF.

Cyber secure, easy to use, highly reliable and lightning fast software is essential to successfully serve the Marine Corps’ ever increasing tactical data needs, so once again, the USMC has turned to Northrop Grumman. The company will provide both software maintenance support and software development through a new program known as TSOA/C2PC PDSS (post deployment software support).

C2 applications are enormously complex and require processing and analysis of massive volumes of sensor imagery, intelligence data feeds, mission updates and digital communications. Northrop Grumman’s highly sophisticated C2 software automatically detects threats and alerts military decision makers when action is required.

Northrop Grumman will provide support to the MC2SA Integrated Product Teams (IPTs), and specifically for the TSOA and for the “family-of-systems” for C2PC, which the Marines rely on as the primary component of the Joint Tactical Common Operational Picture Workstation (JTCW). Over the next five years, Northrop Grumman will work with MC2SA to transform and unify the capabilities of these systems.

“Marines are often the first in the fight and they need every tactical edge we can give them,” said Todd Leavitt, vice president, maritime systems unit, Northrop Grumman. “Our C2PC application provides a user-friendly common operational picture, complete with track and overlay functionality to ensure USMC forces receive the most secure, efficient and reliable capabilities available to support their operational mission.”

Northrop Grumman’s Spectrum Center facility in San Diego, California will house the development and sustainment work for C2PC and the TSOA.

The C2PC PDSS contract includes engineering and development support to the MC2SA portfolio of programs. Each year, a series of duplicative elements will be consolidated or retired to sharpen the effectiveness of the architecture.

“Northrop Grumman’s twenty-year legacy of experience in these areas, combined with our proven technical processes and a proactive management approach, provides MARCORSYSCOM with confidence that Northrop Grumman will remain on schedule and deliver within approved budgets,” added Leavitt. “More than anything, this is a partnership we’re truly honored to support.”

(Photo credit: U.S. Marine Corps)

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