Army Awards $1.4B Contract to Northrop for Missile Defense System Production

The Army has awarded Northrop Grumman a $1.4 billion production contract for the Integrated Battle Command System.

Under the terms of the five-year deal, Northrop will launch initial low-rate production and full-rate production of the integrated missile defense system, which is expected to link disparate missile defense assets, Breaking Defense reported.

IBCS is a key element of the Army’s effort to modernize its air and missile defense capability, according to Northrop’s website.

The system will serve as an advanced and survivable command and control system for the Army and its allies by connecting sensors to the most relevant shooters, Northrop added.

In a statement published by DVIDS, the Army said that IBCS will improve the warfighter’s battlespace awareness and ability to defend in complex attack scenarios.

IBCS’ command and control functions ultimately support Joint All-Domain Command and Control, the Department of Defense’s concept of connecting sensors from all warfighting domains into a single network.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, a 2021 Wash100 winner, signed off on the Pentagon’s JADC2 strategy in June. Once fully implemented, JADC2 is expected to allow even a fighter jet to coordinate with infantrymen using a global data-sharing network.

Northrop is set to deliver up to 160 systems for the Army’s modernization effort. After a full-rate production decision in fiscal year 2023, Northrop will be authorized to ramp up its IBCS production to meet the military’s fielding priorities.

The contract, which was awarded by Program Executive Office Missiles and Space, has an expected completion date of Dec. 22, 2026.