Clear imaging that provides insight to pilots has always been a hallmark of LITENING, developed by Northrop Grumman.
Advanced Technology and Innovation
The result of constantly questioning and problem solving? A shared purpose that puts Northrop Grumman on the forefront of innovation and advanced technology development, everywhere from below the waves to above the atmosphere.
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Advanced Manufacturing: Deep Learning for Electronics Inspections
Powerful robots will soon get artificial eyes and a brain. This next gen upgrade is what engineers at Northrop Grumman are developing through sophisticated deep learning algorithms.
New Integrated Circuit Security Method Detects Imported Hardware Trojans
Northrop Grumman and the University of Maryland, College Park developed a new integrated circuit security method that rapidly detects and locates hardware Trojans with a high level of accuracy.
Upgraded Radio Frequency Switch to Push Communications into the Future
A meaningful upgrade to the component responsible for guiding and shaping the radio signal, called a radio frequency switch, has lagged for decades. Until now.
Navigating Mars and Beyond with LN-200 Inertial Measurement Units
When NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover lands on the Red Planet in February 2021 and begins exploring the Jezero Crater for signs of microbial life, it will be guided by a tried and trusted navigator, Northrop Grumman's LN-200S Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU).
Hitting a Bullet with a Bullet: Counter-Hypersonic Systems
Maneuvering, high-speed, low-altitude hypersonic threats from near-peer adversaries are upending the conventional rules of ballistic missile defense.
Bending the Laws of Physics to See the Farthest Reaches of Space
What if you’re trying to build humankind’s most powerful space telescope – one that must survive the intense heat of launch and the extreme cold of space – all without giving an inch?
The Women of Artemis
The program is focused on establishing a sustainable human presence in deep space, including ultimately landing the first woman on the Moon. Here at Northrop Grumman, women are leading the way to help achieve this history-making first.
MQ-4C Triton Takes Flight with Multi-Intelligence Upgrade
Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command celebrated a significant milestone with the successful first test flight of the MQ-4C Triton maritime surveillance system.
Seeing the Future Forest Through the Trees
The HOP Queue project was born out of our Technology for Conservation (T4C) initiative, which leverages engineering expertise to help solve environmental sustainability challenges. [...]Read More...
Interoperability Leads to LongShot
Northrop Grumman's LongShot Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is another example of continued modernization and improvements in advanced weapons technology that are critical to national security.
One Shot to do the Impossible: The Intense Testing of the James Webb Space Telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope will orbit far beyond the reach of human repairmen, so engineers only got one shot to get it right. To prepare for this, Northrop Grumman conduced some of the most intense tests ever devised.
The Coolest Technology: Cryocoolers
Cryocoolers are machines that keep sensors extremely cold so that satellites and space telescopes can take pictures on long-term missions. Whether we're looking back toward Earth or outward into deep space, the sensors that capture images require extremely low temperatures.
An Ingenious Device: The Pinch Polarizer Is Used All Over Space
Invented by Northrop Grumman engineers, the pinch polarizer plays a big role in the space industry, ensuring the transmission of satellite radio signals.
Making Super-small Microelectronics with Superpowers
Microelectronics and semiconductors— the tiny components such as transistors, amplifiers, regulators, sensors and switches that make everything from cars to phones to coffee makers and key fobs run.
Quietest Places on Earch
The world is becoming increasingly cluttered by radio frequencies from wireless devices, making testing radars a challenge. To ensure radars are going to perform as needed, engineers need a space that eliminates radio interference. [...]Read More...
Digital Engineering Triumph MEV Revitalizes Satellites in Space
Northrop Grumman is reimagining satellite services, creating a line of industrious spacecraft that refuel and repair satellites.
Cosmic Game Changer: Northrop Grumman and NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope
The story of how NASA, together with an industry team led by Northrop Grumman, achieved the unprecedented: a tool for exploration of the deepest mysteries of our existence.
Zeroing in on Greener Business
Northrop Grumman has set an ambitious goal to achieve “Net Zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. In short, this means the company will balance its emissions of greenhouse gases with the removal of those gases.
Finding a Single Source of Truth with Model Based Systems Engineering
Model-based systems engineering brings a new tool set and innovation to the field. A Northrop Grumman aerospace systems engineer explains more.
The Beginning of Beyond: Artemis Rocket Testing Helps Propel the Next Giant Leap in Space Travel
An uncrewed version of NASA’s new heavy-lift Space Launch System (SLS) will be the first of several Artemis missions that will break boundaries and set records, returning us to the moon and ultimately preparing us for unprecedented exploration of deep space. [...]Read More...
Forensic Science in Aerospace Engineering
Forensic science can help aerospace operations foil failure and improve mission outcomes. Here's how.
Advanced Manufacturing Technology and Innovation
Northrop Grumman uses additive manufacturing to evolve the aerospace industry.
Advanced Technology and Innovation
The result of constantly questioning and problem solving? A shared purpose that puts Northrop Grumman on the forefront of innovation and advanced technology development, everywhere from below the waves to above the atmosphere.
A Window Under the Sea
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The Backplane of NASA’s Webb Telescope Offers a Strong, Steady Hand
The backplane of James Webb Space Telescope will hold the weight of more than 5,300 pounds of optics and instruments — while staying calm in a cold environment.
High Performance Computing Will Take Us to the Far Reaches of Space
Northrop Grumman's propulsion systems engineers use high performance computing capabilities to design the rocket boosters for NASA's Space Launch System.
A New Era In Astronomy
Time Machine to the Cosmos
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) has been making history ever since it was propelled into space in December 2021, revealing never-before-seen details of the early cosmos. Referred to as a time machine, Webb’s powerful instruments use infrared vision to peer back over 13.5 billion years and view the earliest stars and galaxies.
Beyond Expectations
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Ensuring Mission Readiness for the U.S. Army
Northrop Grumman is delivering to the U.S Army superior capabilities to enable the protection of our nation and deterrence of our adversaries.
Seeing the Future Forest Through the Trees
The HOP Queue project was born out of our Technology for Conservation (T4C) initiative, which leverages engineering expertise to help solve environmental sustainability challenges. [...]Read More...
Can Artificial Intelligence Apply Gaming to Military Strategy?
Northrop Grumman hopes to solve the mysteries of games by using artificial intelligence to glean insight that's out of reach of human observation.
Applying AI to Systems Thinking: Every Engineer Has a Story
Everyone has a story to tell, even engineers and systems they build. While there’s no surprise that it’s complex work to design intricate and integrated systems and structures, many may not see that as elements of a bigger picture story.
What’s the Frequency? An AI Algorithm Can Help with That
While chaos, disorder and panic can follow a disaster if public communication breaks down, Michelle Jin realized an AI algorithm could essentially cut through competing radio signals to find a proper frequency that would benefit first responders and victims in a disaster zone.
Surviving Space with Carbon Nanotubes and 3D Printing
Carbon nanotubes and 3D printing can help to solve the biggest survivability challenges in aerospace engineering: ESD and radiation. Here's how.
A New Space Paradigm Calls for Purpose-Built Spacecraft
Northrop Grumman is accelerating the pace of new space technology development, deploying DARPA's R3D2 with extreme speed and incredible innovation.
Keeping Astronauts Safe with NASA’s Orion Spacecraft’s Launch Abort System
Northrop Grumman keeps astronauts safe with its launch abort system that will be part of the Artemis mission.
Spacecraft Design: The Art and Science of Breaking Barriers
Iterative systems engineering produces barrier-breaking spacecraft design. But what does this look like in practice? How do engineering teams combine the science of spaceflight with the art of design to help customers break barriers — and balance budgets?
Lights, Camera, F-14 Tomcat
Early in his career as a radar intercept officer onboard the F-14 Tomcat fighter jet, a movie studio came to make a film on Tom T’s base, Naval Air Station Miramar, California.
Designers to the Stars: Dressing Spacecraft for Mission Success
Before launching onto the celestial stage, Northrop Grumman experts dress spacecraft to protect it from extreme space temperatures.
Mentorship and Digital Engineering Go Hand in Hand
Northrop Grumman is invested in developing a strong foundation in digital engineering to answer requirements our customers create.
Launching Solutions into Space: The Innovation Technology Paradox
Innovation requires a balance between creativity and taking risks. Striking that balance creates a common dilemma: embracing innovation technology without disrupting current operations.
ESD PEKK The Additive Acronym of Advanced Aerospace Manufacturing
ESD PEKK offers a new approach to additive manufacturing that combines traditional thermoplastic with carbon fiber and advanced material characteristics.
Future Vertical Lift The Agile-built Helicopter for the Modern Military
Future Vertical Lift will be the most sophisticated rotorcraft to enter military service. All systems are connected by the digital backbone, allowing the next generation of avionics and self-protection systems to work in a unified way.
Going DA/RC: A Bright Future for Battlefield Management
As a leader in digital transformation for defense, Northrop Grumman is looking to what's next in battlefield management. The future of defense may be in a software system known as Distributed Autonomy/Responsive Control, or DA/RC.
Neuromorphic Cameras Provide a Vision of the Future
From enhanced battlefield protection systems to maintaining aerial drone delivery fleets, neuromorphic cameras hold promise for the future.
Satellite Services in Space
Northrop Grumman developed three mission extension technologies that extend satellite services.
How the MIMIC Program Catalyzed Northrop Grumman Leadership in Space
The MIMIC program enabled Northrop Grumman's expertise in producing reliable, high-speed gallium arsenide (GaAs) chips used by critical defense systems and most cell phones today.
Small But Mighty: Magnetometers and the Future of Inertial Navigation
Tucked inside modern fighter jets and smart munitions, inertial navigation systems have a suite of sensors, including accelerometers that measure linear motion and gyroscopes that measure rotation - small but mighty instruments that measure magnetic fields.
Defense AI Technology Worlds Apart From Commercial AI
Northrop Grumman engineers working in Defense Artificial Intelligence technology operate on smaller data sets in less well-defined environments to enable warfighters to make faster, better-informed, ethical decisions.
Five Innovations Made Possible With Carbon Nanotubes
Carbon isn't exactly a novel material. After all, it's in everything from pencils to diamonds. So, what makes carbon nanotubes so special?
Putting Cockpits under Glass in Vertical Lift Military Aircraft
Northrop Grumman delivered an updated helo configuration — an all-digital glass cockpit known as the UH-60V — in July 2021 and has proposed a similar technology refresh for the Republic of Korea's fleet of UH-60P special ops helicopters.
Flight Status: Composite Technology Is Right on Time
Advances in composite technology are helping the aerospace industry prepare for an increased demand to get new aircraft out the door and into the skies.
Navigating the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
The team behind Northrop Grumman's Scalable Space Inertial Reference Unit navigation system is working to make sure the Roman Space Telescope can stabilize and point in the right direction, even when it's extremely far from home for many years.
ESPAStar: A Freight Train to Space
Northrop Grumman's ESPAStar platform enables secondary payloads to tag along with other missions, utilizing extra available space on launch vehicles, providing a modular and cost-effective spacecraft bus.
SharkSat Scales Up to Deliver Advanced Technology Demonstration
Northrop Grumman's SharkSat program scales up speed and specificity to deliver an advanced technology demonstration.
Busting Myths about Military Technology and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Learn the truth behind how Northrop Grumman leverages the electromagnetic spectrum and military technology.
Brawn, Brains and Beauty
Northrop Grumman is at the forefront of Industry 4.0. The latest industrial revolution is about leveraging four key digital technologies to optimize resources, enable faster decision making based on real-time data, and to produce higher quality products at a reduced cost.
Revolutionizing Military Operations with Augmented Reality
Northrop Grumman is working on a solution to use augmented reality (AR) in the battlefield.
Rocket Design Team Helps Launch New Space Opportunities
Northrop Grumman's rocket design team is always working to design more reliable, better priced and more innovative rockets for customers and for emerging opportunities.
Five Innovations Made Possible With Carbon Nanotubes
Carbon isn't exactly a novel material. After all, it's in everything from pencils to diamonds. So, what makes carbon nanotubes so special?
Startup Investments Sharpen Focus on Innovation
Northrop Grumman has partnered with Philadelphia-based startup, Deepwave Digital, a developer and provider of radio frequency and wireless systems powered by artificial intelligence.
Strengthening Missile Defense through Suborbital Target Vehicles
Suborbital target vehicles simulate ballistic missile and cruise missile threats to test the defensive capabilities of U.S. ground- and ship-based interceptors.
DAWN Spacecraft: Uncovering the Relics of the Early Solar System
NASA's DAWN spacecraft, designed and built by Northrop Grumman, captured more than 100,000 images of the two different proto-planets, allowing scientists to catalog their previously unknown history.
Head in the Clouds
Even the most advanced military technology and missions need help to withstand the elements and at Northrop Grumman, our atmospheric scientists are the in-house experts on weather and its potential impact on the U.S. military.
10 Facts About Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider
Northrop Grumman unveiled the B-21 Raider on Dec. 2, 2022 at the company’s facility in Palmdale, California
Supersonic-Aircraft
Northrop Grumman is collaborating with aircraft maker Boom Supersonic to find a way to bring aid, supplies or people to far-flung areas faster than ever before, incorporating military systems integration into the world-class Overture supersonic aircraft.
The Brains Behind Military Electronics: Custom ASIC Chips
Northrop Grumman's ASIC chips are extremely tiny, have complex requirements and need to be super durable to perform for the military in harsh environments.
3D Fiber Printing Invention – Patented Success in Additive Manufacturing
Developed by Northrop Grumman engineers, 3D Carbon Fiber Printing is new technology for use on Earth and in space.
A New Way to Power the World’s Most Powerful Navy
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Mission Unlimited: Inventing Autonomous Recharging of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles
Northrop Grumman partnered with Seatrec to find a way to harvest ocean energy. Together, they invented autonomous recharging of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles.
A Water and Electricity Pairing: NiobiCon™ Technology Sparks Self-Insulating Solutions
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Preparing to Launch Landsat 9
Northrop Grumman fault management engineers consider all scenarios for Landsat 9, the next satellite in a 49-year history of documenting the Earth's surface.
Gray Wolf Missile Design
Northrop Grumman's Gray Wolf cruise missile design brings cost efficiencies and collaborative thinking together to produce a framework for digitally designed weapons.
Scouting for Disruptive Technologies
Northrop Grumman’s Disruptive Concepts and Technologies group continuously monitors new and disruptive ideas for insights on how to harness new tech and ideas for customers and their missions.
Game Changer Part III: Triumph
In the Spring of 2018, questions from the media, Congress and the science community swirled around NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope program. The headlines weren’t kind.
Life on a Moon Base
In July 2022 — sponsored by Northrop Grumman and as part of earning her master’s degree in human spaceflight from the University of North Dakota — Krystal volunteered to teach a three-week course on lunar base architecture and space human factors for the Juneau Icefield Research Program. [...]Read More...
A Career in Orbit
On Jan. 31, 2023, Vice President Kamala Harris awarded Doug and Bob the Congressional Space Medal of Honor for their meritorious efforts and contributions to America’s space programs throughout their NASA careers, including their roles in the Demo-2 mission. [...]Read More...
Virtual Reality Brings Engineers to the Moon
Northrop Grumman engineers use virtual reality and 3D-printed models to step into astronauts' shoes and test the feasibility of procedures in the lunar module.
The End Game Extended Reality XR Transforms Platform Sustainment
At Northrop Grumman, a team of experts is at the forefront of Extended Reality (XR), a blend of Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR) capabilities.
Disruptive Concepts and Technologies: Quantum Technology
A research team within Northrop Grumman is incorporating emerging developments in quantum technology to provide capabilities not found in the realm of classical physics.
Rising to the Occasion: Northrop Grumman and the Sentinel (GBSD) Program
The U.S. Air Force’s Sentinel Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) is the weapon system replacement for the aging LGM-30 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system (ICBM). Sentinel (GBSD) represents the modernization of the ground-based leg of the nuclear triad.
Using Automation and Robotics in Advanced Aircraft Production
Northrop Grumman's Integrated Assembly Line uses automation to produce precision F-35 subassemblies at unprecedented levels of speed, quality and affordability.
Aquatic Agility: Repurposing Wastewater as an Ultra-Pure Resource
For Northrop Grumman's Advanced Technology Laboratories near Baltimore, repurposing wastewater as an ultra-pure resource takes aquatic agility.
Real Time Insights with a Future Bent
Northrop Grumman engineers are combining a well-known decision-making theory, known as an OODA loop, with sensor data crunched by AI and ML to predict the lifespan of systems.
Creating Force Multipliers
Northrop Grumman's integrated digital environment is a digital engineering SaaS (Software as a Service) approach for building advanced technology.
AI Ethics Building Security and Responsibility into Intelligent Systems
Northrop Grumman is working with U.S. Government organizations to develop policies for what tests need to be completed and documented to determine if an AI model is sufficiently safe, secure, and ethical for DoD use.
Todd Mott: Clearing the Smoke on Data Reduction
Whenever Northrop Grumman conducts a static test of the new five-segment Flight Support Booster has developed for NASA's Space Launch System, hundreds of test instruments attached to the rocket generate millions of data points through thousands of data channels.
Multifunction Sensors Deliver
Multifunction sensors harness wideband apertures and digital technology to perform multiple military missions across the electromagnetic spectrum.
The Brains Behind Military Electronics: Custom ASIC Chips
Northrop Grumman's ASIC chips are extremely tiny, have complex requirements and need to be super durable to perform for the military in harsh environments.
A New Era in Astronomy
What if you’re trying to build humankind’s most powerful space telescope – one that must survive the intense heat of launch and the extreme cold of space – all without giving an inch?
Water on Mars
Water on Mars? Thanks to innovative space deployable structures made by Astro Aerospace, we are learning more about the Red Planet every day.
Artificial Intelligence Helps Protect Troops in Denied GPS Environments
A new artificial intelligence algorithm detects and identifies low-level GPS jamming and spoofing threats that render mission navigation systems ineffective.
Engineering a Future Safe from Hypersonic Threats
The future of warfare includes maneuvering weapons that fly at speeds exceeding Mach 5.
RQ-4 Global Hawk Modernized Ground Segment Comes in From the Cold
A new modern, flexible Northrop Grumman facility will allow RQ-4 Global Hawk operators to control up to 10 aircraft at once and deliver ISR data to analysts faster than ever.
Why the Webb Spacecraft Bus Is in a League of Its Own
While the payload of a space launch garners the most attention, it's the spacecraft bus that carries and supports every aspect of the mission for the life of that craft.
LIDAR Technology at Work The Pathfinder Reconnaissance Drone
Northrop Grumman engineers are combining LIDAR technology and drone technology to provide detailed spatial reconstruction data — and provide it flexibly, with mobility, avoiding costly setup of equipment at each survey location.
Digital Modeling for Out-of-This-World Environments
Northrop Grumman engineers combined digital modeling with physical testing to predict how the James Webb Space Telescope -- the world's largest telescope -- will perform in space.
Zeroing in on Greener Business
Northrop Grumman has set an ambitious goal to achieve “Net Zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. In short, this means the company will balance its emissions of greenhouse gases with the removal of those gases.
Beyond the Mind’s Eye
Northrop Grumman's VISL leverages augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) throughout the entire engineering life cycle of new weapons systems.
Creating Zero G on a Planet Weighed Down by Gravity
By using weights, pulleys and other forms of ground support equipment (not to mention a deep understanding of physics), Northrop Grumman engineers can mimic, as much as possible, the weightlessness of zero G.
Beyond the Boneyard
Northrop Grumman finds creative solutions to end-of-life management. From STEM education to technician training and public display, Northrop Grumman is demonstrating that there is still plenty of life in end-of-life technology.
How We’re Building the Future of Work at Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman is defining the future of work by focusing on a expanding Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, designing multiple pathways to employment, and focusing on employee development.
Manufacturing the Very Lightweight Torpedo
Northrop Grumman is driving the vision for a less expensive torpedo design that's also light enough to be carried on new generations of smaller delivery platforms.
Propelling Space and Defense Missions: Solid Rocket Motor Expertise
Solid rocket motors are critical to space and defense missions because of their long shelf life and ability to be launched with little preparation.
The Sound of Future Applications for Field-Induced Forces
A field-induced force is what the name implies: a wave creates a force that moves an object without touching it. Using frequencies beyond what humans can hear, the Northrop Grumman team creates can move tiny particle using sound.
How Do You Test Hypersonic Systems?
Assessing the performance and durability of engines, missiles, vehicles and other items withstanding stresses of hypersonic speeds takes time.
Engineering Marvel: The JWST Mega Sunshield Takes its Shape
Imagine having to squeeze an enormous mirror and a sunshield that's the size of a tennis court into a rocket ship. This is the reality of an intricate deployment Northrop Grumman engineers have incorporated into the construction of the James Webb Space Telescope.
Ditching the Documents
Northrop Grumman digital engineers use "model-based everything" to automate and integrate the steps required to design, develop and test advanced weapon systems.
Game Changer Part II: Northrop Grumman and the James Webb Space Telescope’s Confounding Sunshield
From day one, everyone involved in the program knew that when NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope arrived on orbit it would change humanity’s understanding of our cosmic origins. If it worked...
Clearing the Waters: Novel Combination of Imaging Tech and Algorithms
Northrop Grumman has partnered with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to develop a comprehensive system for monitoring oysters as part of an end-to-end conservation reserve program including acoustics, chemical, light field imaging and machine learning.
Turtle Power: Unmanned Aircraft Systems Supply No-Touch Tracking Solution
Northrop Grumman and the Brevard Zoo have teamed up with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to develop the "Turtle Tech" program — a technology for conservation effort that leverages unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to discover where sea turtles come from, where they're feeding and where they ultimately go.
How Military Aircraft EO/IR Systems Save American Lives
A U.S. Air Force veteran and A-10 fighter pilot used electro-optical and infrared sensors (EO/IR) systems, which buys time in an air combat situation.
Incubating and Investing Bring Innovation to Life
Northrop Grumman partners with technology startups to integrate new solutions for aerospace programs.
Digital Engineering and Human Factors Designing HALO
Northrop Grumman engineers are using digital engineering methods to design and test the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO).
Digital Twins Facilitate Program Success
The use of digital twins is a critical element of digital transformation success as Northrop Grumman works with government and industry partners.