Northrop Grumman Secures $13.3 Billion Deal to Modernize U.S. Air Force Intercontinental Missile Defense

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has recently been awarded a significant contract by the U.S. Air Force to revamp the aging intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system. This $13.3 billion contract marks the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program.

The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center has outlined that this initiative will extend over a period of 8.5 years, focusing on weapon system design, qualification, testing, evaluation, and nuclear certification. Following the successful completion of the EMD phase, Northrop Grumman’s team will initiate the production and delivery of a modern, fully integrated weapon system, aligning with the Air Force’s timeline for achieving initial operational capability by 2029.

“In an era of rapidly evolving threats, ensuring a modern strategic deterrent capability is of utmost importance to safeguard our citizens,” stated Kathy Warden, chairman, CEO, and president of Northrop Grumman. “With over 65 years of expertise in ICBM systems, our dedicated national team is privileged to continue its collaboration with the U.S. Air Force, delivering a safe, secure, and effective system that will bolster global stability for years ahead.”

This EMD award follows a fruitful three-year phase-one effort in the technology maturation and risk reduction (TMRR) aspect of the GBSD competition. The Northrop Grumman team showcased remarkable innovation and nimbleness through a digital engineering approach, successfully achieving all TMRR design review milestones within budget and on time.

Activities related to this program will be conducted at Northrop Grumman GBSD facilities located in Roy and Promontory, Utah, alongside various vital sites in the U.S. including Huntsville and Montgomery, Alabama; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Bellevue, Nebraska; San Diego and Woodland Hills, California; and Annapolis Junction, Maryland, as well as numerous other locations nationwide.

The Northrop Grumman GBSD team comprises key industry players such as Aerojet Rocketdyne, Bechtel, Clark Construction, and General Dynamics, among others. Additionally, hundreds of small to medium-sized enterprises from the defense, engineering, and construction sectors will contribute to this essential national security initiative. In total, the GBSD program will engage over 10,000 professionals in the U.S. dedicated to enhancing our national security.

Northrop Grumman addresses the most pressing challenges in space, aeronautics, defense, and cyberspace, continually adapting to meet the dynamic needs of clients worldwide. With a workforce of 90,000 employees, we redefine possibilities daily, leveraging cutting-edge science, technology, and engineering to deliver advanced systems, products, and services.