Missile Defense Capabilities

Northrop Grumman's Role in Missile Defense

Northrop Grumman is a full spectrum company, rich in domain expertise supporting layered missile defense in boost, midcourse and terminal phases. The company's strength is its ability to deliver the essential capabilities and technologies that link functions across key elements of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). These include sensors; shooters; integration and battle management, command, control and communications (BMC3). Northrop Grumman is a primary provider of ideas, technologies and systems that delivers the power to protect to the United States and its allies across the national security spectrum.

A Rich Legacy of Domain Expertise in
Sensors, Shooters, Integration and BMC3

Northrop Grumman is leveraging its technical domain knowledge to make significant contributions to the Missile Defense Agency’s vision for the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), in all phases of flight – boost, midcourse and terminal.

From space-based early warning sensors, to land- and sea-based shooters, to command and control computers, to integration in test beds and next-generation warfighting systems, Northrop Grumman is enabling an essential integration of functions. The company’s broad suite of capabilities encompasses the sensors; shooters; integration and battle management, command, control and communications (BMC3) required for effective, layered ballistic missile defense.

Sensors Sensors
Northrop Grumman is developing the next generation of space systems, including the payload for the Defense Support Program replacement, the Space Based Infrared System and the Space Tracking and Surveillance System, as tactical resources for “birth to death tracking” from space.

BMC3
BMC3
Northrop Grumman is developing and deploying critical real-time distributed BMC3 software for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Fire Control and Communications (GFC/C) and the Command Launch Equipment (CLE).

Shooters
Northrop Grumman, the prime contractor for the Kinetic Energy Interceptor, is developing a defensive weapon designed to intercept ballistic missiles in their boost, ascent and midcourse phases. KEI is capable of landand sea-basing, with potential for international participation.

As the free world’s premier developer of weaponsclass directed energy systems, Northrop Grumman is providing the laser for the revolutionary Airborne Laser (ABL), a speed-of-light, boost phase intercept capability.

Integration
Managed by Northrop Grumman for the MDA, the Joint National Integration Center is a highly sophisticated, oneof-a-kind facility, where modeling, simulation and integration activities for the evolving BMDS occur daily. This includes wargaming with allies and international partners.

Sea-basing of missile defense capabilities presents a unique opportunity for Northrop Grumman, which, as the Navy’s primary source of ships, is positioned to grow in prominence as this capability extends around the world.

Click here for a PDF of our Missile Defense capabilities brochure.