Advanced Networking Technology

Advanced Networking

Creating a resilient, cyber-secure, open and integrated communications network is critical to maintaining the strategic advantage needed to succeed across today’s technology-driven battlespace.

We are responding to the new age of data-driven warfare by rapidly bringing forward advanced, integrated and secure networking systems that will enhance mission effectiveness, improve situational awareness and heighten warfighter safety. Northrop Grumman is developing a broad portfolio of advanced networking technologies and capabilities designed to meet the mission needs of today that is positioned to meet the network-centric operations of tomorrow.

Internet of Warfighting Things and Emerging Technologies

Northrop Grumman is investing today in the future of the connected battlespace. We are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible to bring forward new and emerging capabilities, and expanding the functionality of existing technologies to enhance mission effectiveness to help bring the Internet of Warfighting Things (IoWT) to life across the battlespace.

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 our capabilities with human-centered machine intelligence to take advantage of emerging digital system capabilities. Many of the company’s innovative technologies integrate leading-edge solutions into distributed, dynamic mission systems that are essential to our national security.

Northrop Grumman’s advanced networking offerings provide the foundation needed to implement the use of the advanced IoWT applications such as secure and ethical artificial intelligence, real-time situational awareness, machine learning, cloud computing and connected battlefield applications, among others.

Networked Communications Solutions

Our Networked Communications Solutions (NCS) provide scalable, platform agnostic, cyber-secure, open architecture networking systems. NCS offerings sit at the center of 4th and 5th generation platform connectivity—providing a wide range of leading communications and networking capabilities used across the Department of Defense (DOD) and coalition militaries.

NCS offerings provide differentiated security, data translation, tactical networking and multifunction technologies that will help the DOD realize its vision for Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) and maintain an advantage in an age of technology driven conflict. Our portfolio of NCS systems are designed to be platform agnostic and the open architecture, software-defined nature of the systems allows for rapid integration of new capabilities and networking functions, inclusive of third-party sensors and solutions.

Freedom Radio Product Line

Our Freedom Radios provide cyber-secure, software-defined, multifunction, open architecture solutions to support a wide range of integrated communications and networking capabilities across multiple domains. The broad portfolio of Freedom Radios are used across multiple branches of the DOD. We are also bringing forward a number of new Freedom Radio offerings to support key DOD initiatives such as JADC2 and a Software Programmable Open Mission Systems (OMS) Compliant (SPOC) radio, among other efforts.

Open Architecture Gateways

Northrop Grumman’s gateway systems have an extensive track record of helping interconnect branches of the military. Our leading Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) gateway system has over 200,000 combat operational flight hours since its first deployment with the U.S. Air Force in 2008.

As the prime on the BACN program, our system provides a high-altitude, airborne communications gateway that translates and distributes imagery, voice and tactical data from disparate elements—enhancing situational awareness communications and coordination for joint warfighters operating across space, air, land and sea. It is also one of the first battle-tested gateway systems to enable warfighters and platforms to effectively communicate and securely share data across all branches of the DOD.

We are investing in developing low size, weight and power gateway systems which are designed to enable communications and cross domain translations between multiple beyond line-of-sight and line-of-sight networks and datalinks—inclusive of 5th to 4th^, generation capabilities. The development of these systems includes a focus on multi-level secure and integrated functions such as cloud computing, machine learning, ethical and secure artificial intelligence, next generation data links and the use of third-party software and sensor solutions.

Integrated Communications, Navigation and Identification Systems

Northrop Grumman’s integrated Communications Navigation and Identification system (iCNI)—currently used across a number of high-profile DOD platforms—provides more than 27 fully-integrated capabilities, enabling the system to simultaneously and securely deliver a number of critical functions while greatly reducing size, weight and power demands and enhancing overall mission effectiveness for a variety of platforms. The software-defined nature of iCNI enables the system to be continuously enhanced over time to provide new functionalities to meet emerging mission demands. Our iCNI systems enhance warfighters’ situational awareness; improve interoperability across platforms; adapt to emerging mission demands; and securely distribute critical information needed for mission success.

Tactical Networking

We are a Tactical Data Link (TDL) solutions provider with 60 years of experience in the design and development of TDLs, network planning, management and control systems for every echelon of battlefield network communications. Our deep understanding of network protocols, messages, and operational use has resulted in a mature and robust link management product suite. Our TDL solutions are currently employed world-wide, used by both Defense and Industry to conduct TDL operations using a wide variety of over 30 interfaces and protocols, such as Link 16, Link 11, Joint Range Extension Application Protocol (JREAP), Variable Message Format (VMF) and Link 22.

Information Assurance and Multi-Level Security

We are a leader in providing differentiated information assurance and cyber survivability capabilities as well as multi-level secure data translation and tactical networking technologies that will help the DOD and coalition forces continue to maintain a strategic advantage in an era of data-driven conflict. Our cyber survivability capabilities are built into the software and hardware of our networking systems to keep them secure and protected from potential attacks and our information assurance and multi-level security offerings are designed to help ensure data is trusted and secure across domains.  

Space Systems

For 45 years, Northrop Grumman has supplied protected satellite communications capabilities for a range of critical national security and DoD programs.

Today, we provide truly protected, anti-jam, LPI-LPD, cyber secure and nuclear survivable space systems. We are currently engaged in new efforts including the Enhanced Strategic SATCOM (ESS) system and the protected tactical SATCOM (PTS) system. As the DoD looks to interconnect all domains, the combination of our space and networking capabilities will play a vital role—providing secure communications around the globe.

Digital Transformation of Advanced Networking

As Northrop Grumman invests in future advanced networking capabilities to meet emerging mission demands, our continued leadership in digital transformation will be critical. We are incorporating integrated digital methodologies across our existing advanced networking technology offerings and looking at innovative ways to incorporate all aspects of digital transformation into future capabilities. Our proven success as a partner includes an expertise in digital engineering, DevSecOps, secure and ethical artificial intelligence/machine learning, advanced manufacturing, and open architecture woven with Lean-Agile methodologies.