Northrop Grumman is a prominent American multinational aerospace and defense company deeply involved in the space industry. As a space technology and launch systems provider, they manufacture spacecraft, satellites, and precision sensors. They are a major partner with NASA, providing cargo delivery to the International Space Station (ISS) through their Cygnus spacecraft and contributing to projects like the James Webb Space Telescope. Northrop Grumman is also involved in developing advanced autonomous systems for military and commercial applications.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
In Phase 2 the Air Force will select two launch providers from a field of four competitors that includes United Launch Alliance, SpaceX, Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman.
Northrop Grumman received $762,000,000 in Air Force funding to help defray the expense of meeting the government’s unique launch requirements.
SpaceX filed a protest with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims on 2019-05-17 over the Air Force’s 2019-10-10 decision to provide funding to Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman, and ULA but not to SpaceX.
Boeing proposed to Northrop Grumman to jointly submit a proposal with Northrop as the prime contractor and Boeing as a principal subcontractor immediately after deciding not to bid.
Northrop Grumman has an overwhelming advantage due to its status as the largest manufacturer of solid rocket motors.
McCall suggested Northrop Grumman's refusal to allow Boeing on the team reflects concern that Boeing's designs may be superior.
Boeing considered a team arrangement with Aerojet but determined that Northrop Grumman had a significant risk advantage.
Northrop Grumman declined Boeing's proposal for a joint submission.
Boeing is asking the Air Force to compel Northrop Grumman to include Boeing in its bid for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program.
Frank McCall stated that if both Boeing and Northrop remain in the program, the government can better define the future of the GBSD.
Northrop Grumman announced its subcontractor team for the GBSD, which includes Aerojet Rocketdyne, the only other U.S. manufacturer of solid rocket motors.
Boeing decided in July 2023 not to submit a proposal due to Northrop Grumman's overwhelming advantage as the largest manufacturer of solid rocket motors.
NASA intended to award a sole-source contract to Northrop Grumman to build the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) after determining it was the only company able to complete the module in time to support a 2024 human lunar landing.
Northrop Grumman is currently producing large solid rocket motors for multiple customers and has the capacity for the GBSD.
Northrop Grumman and Boeing were expected to compete to be GBSD prime contractors.
Frank McCall, vice president of Boeing Strategic Deterrence Systems, stated that Northrop Grumman considered the proposal for about a month before declining.
Aerojet Rocketdyne lost significant large solid rocket motor market share to Orbital ATK, which Northrop Grumman acquired in 2017.
Northrop Grumman is investing in flexible technologies for the GEOstar-3 satellite platform.
Northrop Grumman is providing ground infrastructure for the two Space Norway satellites it is building under a contract won in July.
Amer Khouri, head of Northrop Grumman’s commercial satellite division, estimated that 20 to 30 GEO satellites will retire over the next five years.