Ensuring Mission Readiness for the U.S. Army

Northrop Grumman’s Next-Generation Defense Solutions for the U.S. Army

Northrop Grumman continues to deliver advanced weapon systems and critical capabilities for the U.S. Army to maximize mission readiness. Below are 15 ways Northrop Grumman is supporting customers with cutting-edge, next-generation technology to enable the protection of our nation against emerging global threats.

1. Integrated Battle Command System

The Integrated Battle Command System is a revolutionary command and control system that unifies current and future systems regardless of source, service or domain. As the cornerstone of the U.S. Army's air and missile defense modernization strategy, IBCS gives warfighters capabilities they never had before by fusing sensor data for a single actionable picture of the full battlespace. This ready-now capability gives warfighters more time to make decisions on how best to defeat threats and is a foundational element for enabling joint and coalition, multi-domain operations.

2. Bushmaster® Chain Guns®

Battle-proven, medium-caliber Bushmaster® Chain Guns® provide superior effects on several U.S. Army programs to ensure battlefield advantage. The 50mm XM913 is designed for the new XM30 Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) program. The Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) is protecting the warfighters with the 30mm XM813 weapon system. The 30mm XM914 provides a kinetic solution to Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems on the SGT STOUT (formerly known as M-SHORAD) program and the Mobile, Low, Slow, Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System (M-LIDS) program.

Northrop Grumman is also developing the world’s first 30x113mm dual-feed medium caliber cannon. The M230LF Dual Feed chain gun gives operators the ability to counter unmanned aerial (C-UAS) threats at the same time as traditional ground targets at speed. The M230LF Dual Feed can seamlessly change between two types of ready ammunition, a feature adopted from the Mk44 Bushmaster. The standard recommended ammunition load would include XM1211 high explosive proximity (HEP) rounds for C-UAS and M1198 high explosive dual-purpose – self-destruct (HEDP-SD) rounds for anti-armor capabilities. Both ammunition rounds feature self-destruct functions in the event of missed shot, minimizing collateral damage.

3. Propulsion/Solid Rocket Motors

With over six decades of proven performance – and more than 1 million solid rocket motors delivered – Northrop Grumman is a trusted provider of large, medium and small solid rocket motors and advanced propulsion systems. Our solid rocket motor portfolio provides the propulsion to deter and defend against threats, deliver payloads to space and enable discovery beyond our planet. Through missile programs like Hellfire and Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, our reliable solid rocket motors provide the U.S. Army the extended range and survivability required for advanced weapons.

4. Advanced Ammunition

Northrop Grumman's advanced medium-caliber ammunition is the next-generation technology capable of programmable airburst, proximity airburst and guidance to meet emerging threats that couldn't be defeated otherwise. This is direct fire ammunition used in engagements ranging from aircraft firing air-to-air and air-to-ground, to ground forces such as the U.S. Army's Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Stryker Infantry Carriers taking out ground and aerial targets.

5. Precision Guidance Kit (PGK)

The U.S. Army recently awarded Northrop Grumman a contract to qualify the next generation Precision Guidance Kit for artillery. PGK-E5 adds enhancements for improved performance in GPS degraded environments to Northrop Grumman’s existing PGK, while maintaining the current guidance kit’s accuracy and reliability. This will add to the 120,000 PGKs already produced for the U.S. Army.

6. Advanced Multi-Purpose (AMP) Tank Ammunition

As the U.S. Government's premier partner for tank ammunition, Northrop Grumman continues to support the Army’s M1147 AMP program – the next-generation 120mm Advanced Multi-Purpose round. AMP has transitioned into full rate production and will provide increased capability for the U.S. Army's Abrams main battle tank. Supporting training readiness for the U.S. Army, Northrop Grumman is currently producing increased quantities of tank training ammunition and developing a next generation training round to replicate the AMP round in the training environment.

7. Jackal

In consideration of various potential U.S. Government needs, Northrop Grumman is developing Jackal, a turbo-jet powered precision strike weapon bringing speed and versatility to the front lines. This multifunctional weapon delivers modularity with lethal and non-lethal payloads. Northrop Grumman’s Jackal solution includes surface, air, and maritime launch capabilities.

8. Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2)

Northrop Grumman has a comprehensive perspective and the innovative strength to leverage against the challenge of realizing a fully joint and combined all domain C2 future. From model-based system engineering, to connected sensors and effectors – JADC2 demonstrates multi-domain and joint service mission operations, informed by our end-to-end mission thread knowledge. The U.S. Army’s adoption of Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control allows the connectivity of information with other military branches to enable quicker decision making and joint force protection.

9. Forward Area Air Defense (FAAD)

Forward Area Air Defense provides the full kill-chain solution by simultaneously integrating short range air defense, Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar (C-RAM), and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) missions on a single pane of glass. With eight years of experience with Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems, FAAD is the Secretary of Defense selected command and control system for C-UAS for the U.S. Department of Defense. With real-time safety critical engagement operations and fire control software, FAAD monitors the airspace in real-time to identity friend and foe assets and provides tracking data to enable safe interception in a dynamic airspace. It is available on a tablet, enhancing maneuverability for United States military, allies and partners.

10. Survivability with ATHENA, AN/APR-39 and CIRCM

Onboard survivability is the standard today, but in the future, it will be just one way of protecting warfighters. Systems may be tasked with defending single aircraft or entire missions, a concept known as distributed survivability. Future threats may be multispectral, but so are our solutions, ATHENA, AN/APR-39 Digital Radar Warning Receiver Family and Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM). Whether infrared or radio frequency, there's nowhere for threats to hide.

11. Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS)

Northrop Grumman's delivers the solid rocket motor and warhead for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, a ballistic rocket designed to engage targets from 15 to 70 kilometers. Our safety enhancing insensitive munition provides the system structural integrity under extreme conditions such as heat, shock and adjacent detonations, which adds an increased level of safety for the warfighter. Northrop Grumman has designed and constructed a purpose-built manufacturing facility at Allegany Ballistics Laboratory to support the increased demand for higher quantities of the critical weapon system.

12. Live, Virtual and Constructive Training

Northrop Grumman’s multi-domain immersive environments – powered by live, virtual and constructive technologies – deliver advanced training and mission rehearsal capabilities that help warfighters achieve next-level mission readiness for the future battlespace. We operate, innovate and integrate simulation-based solutions that transform warfighters to be mission ready, future ready. Through our Mission Command Training Program, we orchestrate advanced training exercises grounded in Army doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures giving our soldiers the most realistic scenarios to train with. Meanwhile, our Collective Joint Training program supports the full spectrum of Joint Force training operations required to execute global exercises that train warfighters for any threat, anywhere.

13. Modular, Open Systems Approach (MOSA)

Northrop Grumman is an industry-leading mission systems integrator, providing MOSA compliant solutions for an array of mission sets that are extensible to a wide variety of platforms using open standards, interfaces and software architectures. Northrop Grumman’s modularity and open architecture design principles allow systems to easily integrate and be platform agnostic, ensuring lethality, survivability and relevance for decades. From helping write the standards with the Future Airborne Capability Environment® (FACE) Consortium to deploying MOSA across product lines, our software has been connecting disparate systems for years. The FACE and DO-178C model-based design architecture is flying with the Army today and has demonstrated its extensibility via third party software integration on multiple platforms.

14. Advanced Sensing

Northrop Grumman has been at the forefront of sensor technology for decades and our Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology has long been fielded for critical fixed-wing, rotary-wing and ground-based radar applications.

Additionally, the AN/APG-78 LONGBOW fire control radar (FCR) – the only FCR fielded on an attack helicopter – provides AH-64 Apache aircrews with decisive situational awareness, maximum engagement ranges and obsolescence mitigation for diverse roles and missions, ensuring survivability and lethality.

15. Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Inc. 1

Northrop Grumman is partnering with Lockheed Martin to produce the U.S. Army's Precision Strike Missile Inc.1 to replace the MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), significantly extending range and doubling the load out. The company's investments in digital technologies drive affordability and speed to allow for the quick turnaround of a production-ready PrSM system to support the Army's request for an early operational capability.

Northrop Grumman supports the U.S. Army’s modernization transformation and readiness by developing and delivering highly technical, critical capabilities to soldiers and combat formations. These systems will give warfighters the advantage through superior capabilities they need to win the fight, today and beyond.

Media Contact

Krista Alestock
571-389-5021