Northrop Grumman lands more than $900M in U.S. defense contracts

Falls Church-based Fortune 500 government contractor Northrop Grumman won three defense contracts last week totaling more than $900 million, the Department of Defense reported.

On Friday, the Pentagon announced Northrop Grumman received a $398 million contract from the U.S. Space Force, a $325.5 million Army contract and a $196.1 million Navy contract modification.

Under the Space Force contract, Northrop Grumman will build a prototype communications satellite, the Enhanced Protected Tactical Satellite Communications-Prototype (Enhanced PTS-P).

According to the company, the Enhanced PTS-P system is designed to support warfighters operating in contested environments by improving satellite communications, even when adversaries try to jam them, through advanced antennas and onboard processing. It is managed by Space Systems Command.

“Enhanced PTS-P represents another important step in delivering more resilient, protected communications capabilities to the joint force,” Erin Carper, acting Space Force portfolio acquisition executive for satellite communications and positioning, navigation and timing, said in a statement. “This capability will help ensure tactical users can operate with greater confidence in contested environments.”

Work will take place in Redondo Beach, California; Dulles; and other locations across the United States, with completion expected by July 2030. The prototype is expected to launch no earlier than fiscal 2030.

Under the Army contract, Northrop Grumman will develop the RangeHawk universal payload architecture prototype. The system is a high-altitude, long-endurance airborne test platform designed to improve data collection from high-speed systems.

The work includes prototype development, aircraft modification, sensor integration and logistics preparation for testing and validation.

The DOD said bids were solicited online, with one received. Northrop Grumman will perform the work in San Diego, with completion expected by May 14, 2031.

Northrop Grumman received the Navy contract modification to continue supporting the MQ-4C Triton, an unmanned aircraft system used to detect threats. Work covers logistics, testing and technical support to help keep the aircraft mission-ready for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations for the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force.

Work will be carried out in San Diego and several other locations in the United States and overseas, with completion expected by May 2027.

Northrop Grumman was No. 380 on the 2025 Global Fortune 500 list based on its fiscal 2024 revenue of $41 billion. The company reported $41.95 billion in 2025 revenue and has about 100,000 employees.