US selects Northrop Grumman for homeland missile defence
A photo of a test of the nation's Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, conducted in March 2019. (Photo: US Missile Defense Agency)
Northrop Grumman recruited to bolster US intermediate and intercontinental ballistic missile defence.
Northrop Grumman has been awarded an IDIQ contract, valued at around $3.29 billion, by the US Missile Defense Agency for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Weapon System (GWS) programme.
The GWS programme aims to continue the development of a defence system to protect against intermediate and intercontinental ballistic missile attacks.
Northrop Grumman will provide design, development, verification, deployment and sustainment support of new capabilities for GWS.
GWS will transform the current ground system component of the GMD system by utilising a DevSecOps approach to update and modernise legacy code, warfighter capabilities and incorporate the Next Generation Interceptor fleet into the overall GMD system.
The GMD is the current system for intercepting incoming missiles during the midcourse phase of ballistic trajectory, halfway between launch and impact.
Other improvements to the GMD system are also underway, in March 2021, the Missile Defense Agency awarded contracts to Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman for the development of the Next Generation Interceptor, a new guided missile for the GMD.
More from Land Warfare
-
![Sweden seeks US HIMARS missile system to expand long-range strike capability]()
Sweden seeks US HIMARS missile system to expand long-range strike capability
The proposed $920 million deal would provide Sweden with a step up from its existing tube artillery and align the country with other northern European nations that have selected the HIMARS platform.
-
![Thales Storm 2 counter-drone system being evaluated by potential customers]()
Thales Storm 2 counter-drone system being evaluated by potential customers
The attack drone threat from first-person view uncrewed aerial systems has been highlighted by recent conflicts and Thales has adapted its Storm 2 counter-improvised explosive device jammer to provide protection.
-
![Rolls-Royce to lead powertrain development for MGCS in important step for the programme]()
Rolls-Royce to lead powertrain development for MGCS in important step for the programme
The move signals significant progress for the delayed Franco-German Main Ground Combat System programme with first powerpack prototypes set to be tested before the end of the decade.
-
![Australia’s DroneShield looks to Europe in a drive to massively increase production]()
Australia’s DroneShield looks to Europe in a drive to massively increase production
DroneShield has experienced significant growth in a short period of time, more than doubling its personnel to 500 people in the space of 18 months on the back of both military and civil demand.
-
![UN “not fulfilling core tasks” for Ukraine, says Estonian defence secretary]()
UN “not fulfilling core tasks” for Ukraine, says Estonian defence secretary
Estonia is looking for innovative ways to deal with its particular challenges but, according to the MoD’s permanent secretary, Kaimo Kuusk, technology still needs to be backed up by old-fashioned long-range punch.
