C4ISR

Northrop Grumman delivers end-to-end C4ISR capabilities

command room with monitors
A Northrop Grumman engineer performs a quality check in the Advanced Technology Laboratory.

What is C4ISR?

C4ISR stands for Command, Control, Communications, Computers (C4) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR). Advanced C4ISR capabilities provide an advantage through situational awareness, knowledge of the adversary and environment, and shortening the time between sensing and response.

infrared countermeasure systems

Northrop Grumman and C4ISR

Northrop Grumman is a critical partner in delivering advanced C4ISR capabilities, systems integration, and open architectures across multiple domains. Our web of platforms, payloads, sensors and systems give our customers the information they need, when they need it, defining what’s possible.

C4ISR: The Backbone of Operations

F-16's jet flying over mountains

Advanced Networking

For 60 years, Northrop Grumman has been a leader in the design, development and delivery of end-to-end communications & advanced networking capabilities for U.S. and allied military forces operating across multiple battlespace domains.

pilot flying F-22 Raptor

Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radars

With generations of experience, we are a thought leader in Active Electronically Scanned Array sensors. Our AESAs enable platforms to be more survivable and lethal and enhance mission success. We provide radar superiority across multiple domains.

Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radars
unmanned aircraft in flight

Autonomous High-Altitude, Long-Endurance Systems

Northrop Grumman’s autonomous high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) systems, beginning with RQ-4 Global Hawk and now with MQ-4 Triton, have been providing critical ISR data to operational commanders for two decades. Through persistent ISR collection at over 50,000 feet, autonomous HALE offers the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and a growing list of partners including NATO, Australia, Korea, and Japan, unrivaled situational awareness over land and maritime domains.

MQ-4C Triton Global Hawk
SEWIP Block 3 EDM System in lab

Electronic Warfare

Our electronic warfare solutions reach across the electromagnetic spectrum, providing our warfighters with situational awareness and competitive advantage.

Electronic Warfare
LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod Sensors

Electro-Optical and Infrared Sensors (EO/IR)

Our innovative C4ISR capabilities evolve with the mission, connecting high speed, decision quality data to the operator at the tactical edge. 

Learn more about our proven-experience in the electro-optical/infrared sensors.    

Electro-Optical and Infrared Sensors (EO/IR)
multiple drones on ground

Emerging Technologies

Northrop Grumman is pioneering innovation as we seek to solve the world’s most challenging problems. To ensure our warfighters have the confidence to make real-time decisions in complex environments, we are enhancing their capabilities with human-centered machine intelligence to take advantage of emerging digital system capabilities. Many of our innovative technologies integrate leading-edge artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions into distributed, dynamic mission systems that are essential to our national security.

Northrop Grumman Awarded DARPA Gamebreaker Contract Can Artificial Intelligence Apply Gaming to Military Strategy? Swarming Behavior: Drone Swarms to Survey Unknown Environments
military helicopter cockpit with pilots

Integrated Avionics

Our open, flexible, plug & play architecture supports rapid and timely capability enhancements, so our customers benefit from an efficient and affordable solution over a program’s life cycle.

UH-60V Black Hawk
dark illustration of sniper soldier

Why C4ISR Matters

Innovative C4ISR provides a decisive advantage to the warfighter. These systems connect people and data to ensure faster, better decisions to ensure mission success.

When seconds are the difference between success and failure, our integrated mission solutions enable forces to know, decide and respond at outcome-changing speeds.

Learn about Northrop Grumman's C4ISR Heritage

C4ISR In the News

Multi-domain concepts, advanced technologies and integrated designs – One Joint NATO Force

Trans-Atlantic Team to Develop Technical Concept for NATO’s Future Surveillance and Control Capabilities

artist rendition of USCGC Offshore Patrol Cutter

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

EQ-4B Global Hawk aircraft in sky

Northrop Grumman Awarded $3.6 Billion ID/IQ Battlefield Airborne Communications Node Contract

women reading multiple computer screens

Northrop Grumman Invests in Deepwave Digital’s AI

aircraft in flight

Northrop Grumman’s BACN Gateway System Surpasses 200,000 Combat Flight Hours

employee next to LITENING pod

Anytime, Anywhere: Keeping LITENING ready

open mission systems compliant advanced sensor

Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Successful Open Mission Systems Compliant Advanced Sensor

missile warning radar dish

Northrop Grumman, US Army Install Improved Missile Early Warning System in Republic of Korea

MC-130J aircraft in flight

How Northrop Grumman Is Giving Aircrews an Edge in Electronic Warfare

IBCS Intercepts Multiple Targets, Demonstrates Resiliency and Survivability in Contested Environment

IBCS Intercepts Multiple Targets, Demonstrates Resiliency and Survivability in Contested Environment

Finger pointing at digital tablet

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

Missile launch in desert with mountains in background

Advanced Air and Missile Defense, in the Hands of Soldiers

digital illustration

Built on Strong Foundations

Northrop Grumman has been there at pivotal moments in the past century – from building the first airplanes and developing the first radars to creating the Apollo Lunar Module. Our C4ISR leadership builds on that proud history of innovation and success.

How is C4ISR making a difference to the mission?

The key to effective C4ISR is optimizing the functionality and interoperability of land, sea, air and space systems to rapidly turn data and intelligence into mission-winning action. No other company is as experienced in all aspects of C4ISR as Northrop Grumman.

Our C4ISR systems are helping solve the world's toughest security challenges through ground-breaking software and highly advanced and constantly-evolving technology.

C4ISR Careers

Intrigued by taking on what’s never been done? From aerospace to engineering, and logistics to cybersecurity, every career at Northrop Grumman is unlocking tomorrow’s possibilities.

You’ll be working with experimental technologies and developing the latest solutions in projects critical to challenging the future of exploration, defense and communication around the world.  

Learn about our career opportunities
digital illustration of sonar

More about C4ISR

C4ISR is a terrific example of where an acronym helps avoid repetition. After all, who wants to say Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance more times that you must? ‘C4ISR’ helps us put together arguably the most important elements of the infrastructure of global national security into a single, memorable term.

Learn more about C4ISR

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.