Third military satellite for the LDPE program reaches orbit

Northrop Grumman Corp's Long Duration Propulsive ESPA (LDPE)-3A spacecraft reached orbit on Sunday as part of the U.S. Space Force's USSF-67 mission. This marks the third successful launch in the LDPE program.

The LDPE-3A was built using Northrop Grumman’s ESPAStar. The ESPAStar system provides a modular, cost-effective way of carrying multiple experiments into space and deploying small satellites. Also known as a bus, ESPAStar carries hardware so five independent missions can be loaded aboard the satellite. This eliminates the need for each mission to wait for a future launch opportunity.

Northrop Grumman also designed, developed, and implemented the command and control, and mission execution software system for the LDPE program. The software system uses a common baseline across multiple programs, putting more capability in the hands of customer operators at a lower cost.

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch vehicle delivered LDPE-3A to near-geosynchronous Earth orbit for a one-year mission. The Falcon Heavy also carried the second Continuous Broadcast Augmenting SATCOM satellite into orbit with LDPE-3A.

USSF-67 is the third mission for the LDPE program. The Northrop Grumman-built LDPE-1 launched aboard the STP-3 mission in December 2021 and LDPE-2 aboard the USSF-44 mission in November 2022. Northrop Grumman will continue to deliver future ESPAStar spacecraft for future USSF missions.

Video: Building NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope

“Into the Unknown” tells the story of the building of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope – a revolutionary observatory, 100 times more powerful and the scientific successor to the Hubble Telescope. Webb will reveal a universe we have never seen before and is poised to answer questions that have intrigued us for thousands of years. “Into the Unknown” offers an in-depth look at one of the most daring scientific missions ever attempted.

Bridget Coulon named VP Human Resources at Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman Corp. has appointed Bridget Coulon, vice president, human resources for its corporate office and Enterprise Shared Services (ESS) organization, effective immediately. She will report to Denise Peppard, corporate vice president and chief human resources officer.

In this role, Coulon will be responsible for overall human resources leadership in support of the corporate office and ESS organization. She will also be a member of Northrop Grumman's human resources policy council.

Coulon has held director positions throughout Northrop Grumman including the Electronic Systems sector in Baltimore, where she most recently served as human resources business leader for Engineering, Manufacturing and Logistics.

Coulon earned a bachelor's degree in communications and media studies from Radford University in Radford and a master's degree in human resources management from Marymount University in Arlington.

Video: Joint manned/unmanned flight trials aboard aircraft carrier

Northrop Grumman Corp. and the U.S. Navy offered a glimpse of the future of carrier aviation on Sunday by conducting a series of cooperative flights from the aircraft carrier, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), using an X-47B Unmanned Air System (UCAS) and an F/A-18 Hornet.

The flights - the first time manned and unmanned carrier aircraft have operated together in the same carrier controlled landing pattern at the same at the same time - took place in the Eastern Atlantic. They offered Northrop Grumman and the Navy an opportunity to collect data that will help reduce risks associated with integrating unmanned aircraft with conventional manned carrier operations.

"The X-47B has again pushed the boundaries of the UCAS program by demonstrating that it can operate seamlessly with conventional carrier assets in one of the most demanding environments in the world," said Capt. Beau Duarte, the Navy's UCAS program manager.

During the flights, the X-47B flew in the landing pattern with the F/18-Hornet at approach speeds of 120 miles per hour, at a pattern altitude of 1,200 feet. Mission operators aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt had full control of the X-47B during flight maneuvers that involved several planned precision approaches to the carrier.

At the completion of the manned/unmanned flight trials, the X-47B landed safely aboard CVN 71, catching and quickly releasing the arresting cable before folding its wings and taxiing clear of the landing area.

Northrop Grumman, the Navy's UCAS prime contractor, designed and produced the program's two X-47B air vehicles.

Northrop Grumman's UCAS industry team includes Pratt & Whitney, GKN Aerospace, Eaton, General Electric, UTC Aerospace Systems, Dell, Honeywell, Moog, Wind River, Parker Aerospace, Sargent Aerospace & Defense, Rockwell Collins and Lockheed Martin.

Navy orders 25 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft

The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Corp. a $3.6 billion contract to deliver 25 new E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft, bringing the total number of aircraft on contract to 50.

Developed and produced by Northrop Grumman, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the world's only aircraft specifically designed as a carrier-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system. With its structurally distinctive design - a rotating rotodome and four vertical stabilizer tail configuration - the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye provides unprecedented, 360-degree surveillance to the warfighter.

As the only Department of Defense designed, tested and in-production AEW&C platform, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye has undergone a significant transformation from previous E-2 models, resulting in revolutionary capabilities. This includes the new, more powerful AN/APY-9 radar system, exclusive to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, which represents a two-generational leap in radar technology and allows the warfighter to "see" a greater number of targets at much greater distances - as well as new avionics and a glass cockpit.

"A multiyear procurement of these additional E-2Ds will take advantage of efficient, stable production lines at both Northrop Grumman and our suppliers, and will generate significant cost savings for taxpayers and the Navy," said Bart LaGrone, vice president, E-2/C-2 Programs, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.

The Northrop Grumman-led supplier team - "Team Hawkeye" - brings together the best in industry. Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics and Surveillance Systems, Syracuse, N.Y., serves as the principal AN/APY-9 radar system supplier and is teamed with Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Baltimore, and Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems, El Segundo, Calif. Rolls-Royce (Indianapolis, Ind.) provides the T-56-A engines while BAE Systems, Greenlawn, N.Y., is responsible for the identification friend or foe system and L-3 Communications Randtron Antenna Systems, Menlo Park, Calif., developed the ultra-high frequency electronically scanned array antenna.

"Since the first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye delivery in 2007, every aircraft has been delivered on schedule and on budget," LaGrone said.

The Navy's E-2D Advanced Hawkeye program of record is for 75 aircraft, of which Northrop Grumman has already delivered 13 production aircraft.

The Navy is confident the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye will attain initial operational capability later this year.

Northrop Grumman increases Fire Scout's imaging and search capabilities

Northrop Grumman Corp. and the U.S. Navy demonstrated a new multimode maritime surveillance radar on the MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter that will drastically enhance long-range imaging and search capabilities for Navy commanders.

Warfighters will now have the latest in radar technology to pair with their current electro-optical infrared payload. Integrating this new radar system will provide the MQ-8B Fire Scout with essential operational capabilities in all tactical environments and will improve how it addresses threats in real-world scenarios.

"This modernized radar complements Fire Scout's other sensors and systems to provide the Navy with increased visibility far beyond the horizon," said George Vardoulakis, vice president, medium range tactical systems, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.

Northrop Grumman modified a Telephonics Corp. AN/ZPY-4 multi-mode maritime surveillance radar system used for manned aircraft, so it could be used on the unmanned MQ-8B Fire Scout.

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Northrop Grumman appoints new lead executive for Air Force work in Dayton

Northrop Grumman Corp. announced Monday that it has appointed Kevin Bell corporate lead executive for company business in Dayton. Bell reports to Timothy Jones, vice president, aviation and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

In his new role, Bell represents the company to customers in the Dayton region including those at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory and the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.

Bell has supported Northrop Grumman customers in Dayton as a business development representative and a sector lead executive. Prior to joining Northrop Grumman, he served more than 26 years in the Air Force, retiring as assistant to the commander, Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright Patterson Air Force Base. His extensive and successful Air Force acquisition experience includes assignments as the senior acquisition adviser to the Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan, system program director for the KC-767 Aerial Refueling Tanker Lease Program and director of the F/A-22 Fighter Aircraft Engine Program.

Bell earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Valdosta State College, Valdosta, Ga., and a master's degree in management from Troy State University, Troy, Ala. He also attended the Air War College, and Air Command and Staff College.

Air Force orders three Global Hawk drones

The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman Corp. a $114 million advance procurement contract in preparation to build three more RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft systems and associated sensors. The intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft allows military commanders to receive high-resolution imagery, survey vast geographic regions and pinpoint targets on the ground.

This contract provides for advance procurement of three Block 30 aircraft, including three enhanced integrated sensor suites, three airborne signals intelligence payload (ASIP) and two ASIP retrofit kits to be installed on previously purchased aircraft. The work under this contract is expected to be completed in 2015.

The Global Hawk can remain airborne for more than 30 hours at high altitudes while gathering multiple types of intelligence data. Combined with Global Hawk's ability to fly for long periods at altitudes up to 60,000 feet, the aircraft's 12,300 nautical mile range makes the system ideally suited to take on many different ISR missions.

The system has logged more than 100,000 flight hours and has been used over battlefields in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. The system has also supported ISR efforts following the devastating earthquakes that struck Haiti and Japan.

In addition, NASA has been using Global Hawks for scientific and environmental research, recently flying over two hurricanes in September as part of a broader project studying how tropical storms develop over the Atlantic Ocean.

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New program management and engine order for F-35

Brian Chappel has been appointed vice president and program manager for the Northrop Grumman Corp. F-35 Lightning II program. Northrop Grumman is principal partner to Lockheed Martin on the F-35.

Chappel will be responsible for directing and overseeing cost, schedule, technical matters, quality and customer satisfaction for the production of the aircraft's center fuselage.

Most recently, Chappel was vice president of Business Management and chief financial officer for the company's Advanced Development Programs business unit. Since joining the company from the U.S. Air Force in 1993, Chappel has served in leadership positions for such functions as business development, proposals, contracts, pricing and program business operations. He also has held several leadership positions on the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System program.

Chappel earned a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from PennsylvaniaState University and a master's degree in business administration from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Engine order

In related news, the Department of Defense and Pratt & Whitney have reached an agreement in principle for a production contract for the sixth lot of F135 propulsion systems to power the F-35 Lightning II. The low rate initial production (LRIP) contract covers 38 total engines.

“Cost details will be released when the LRIP 6 contract is finalized; however, in general, the unit prices for the 32 common configuration engines, which are used to power both the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft and the aircraft-carrier variant, reduced in LRIP 6 by roughly 2.5 percent compared to the previous LRIP 5 contract for 35 engines,” Pratt & Whitney said in a press release. “The unit prices for the six short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft engines reduced in LRIP 6 by roughly 9.6 percent compared to the previous LRIP 5 contract for three STOVL engines.”

"Driving down cost is critical to the success of this program,” said Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, F-35 Program Executive Officer.

The 38 total engines in the sixth lot contract include 36 install engines and two CTOL whole spare engines. The new contract will also include the first propulsion systems for Italy and Australia.

To date, Pratt & Whitney has delivered 107 production engines. Deliveries of LRIP 6 engines will begin in the fourth quarter of this year. The F135 engine has powered 3,548 flights and 5,432 flight test hours, with 27,243 development and flight test hours completed. The F-35B STOVL aircraft have accomplished more than 600 vertical landings.

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Video: X-47B makes history, lands on deck of aircraft carrier

Northrop Grumman Corp. and the U.S. Navy have completed the first arrested landing of the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) carrier demonstration aircraft on the deck of the USS George H.W. Bush.

The Northrop Grumman-built aircraft landed at 12:23 p.m. EDT while the aircraft carrier was under way off the coast of Virginia, and marks the latest and most significant achievement for the program during carrier sea trials, which began in May.

"Today's historic carrier landing and our operations aboard USS George H.W. Bush show, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that tailless unmanned aircraft can integrate seamlessly and operate safely from an aircraft carrier at sea," said Capt. Jaime Engdahl, Navy UCAS program manager.

The X-47B aircraft took off from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. (Pax River), Wednesday. A mission operator aboard the carrier took control of the aircraft and monitored the flight operations, which included several planned precision approaches in preparation for the first arrested landing.

During today's testing, the X-47B completed the 35 minute journey from Pax River to the carrier and caught the three-wire with the aircraft's tailhook. The arrested landing effectively brought the aircraft from approximately 145 knots to stop in less than 350 feet.

The arrested landings aboard the Bush mark the third major aviation achievement by the UCAS-D program since May. On May 14, the X-47B became the first unmanned aircraft to be catapult launched from a Nimitz class aircraft carrier. On May 17, the aircraft performed the first in a series of precision approaches and touch-and-go landings on a carrier by an unmanned system.

Northrop Grumman is the Navy's UCAS-D prime contractor. The company designed and produced the program's two X-47B air vehicles. Northrop Grumman's UCAS-D industry team includes Pratt & Whitney, GKN Aerospace, Eaton, General Electric, UTC Aerospace Systems, Dell, Honeywell, Moog, Wind River, Parker Aerospace, Rockwell Collins and Lockheed Martin.

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New satellite communications antenna for B-2 stealth bomber

In a demonstration conducted May 23, Northrop Grumman proved that a new antenna it has developed for the B-2 can establish and maintain communications services with an on-orbit Air Force Advanced EHF (AEHF) communications satellite.

The new active electronically scanned array (AESA) antenna and EHF satellite communications system would allow the B-2 to send and receive battlefield information significantly faster than its current satellite communications system.

"Our demo marks the first time that AESA antenna technology has been used to communicate with the AEHF network," said Byron Chong, Northrop Grumman's B-2 deputy program manager. During the test, he added, Northrop Grumman successfully demonstrated extended data rate (XDR) communications between the AESA antenna and the AEHF satellite at EHF frequencies. XDR communications take advantage of the AEHF satellites' most advanced, most secure signaling protocols and communication waveforms.

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Minuteman III refurbished engine test conclude

Northrop Grumman Corp. recently supported the successful test of the Minuteman III Propulsion System Rocket Engine (PSRE) at NASA's White Sands Testing Facility in Las Cruces, N.M.

The PSRE is the liquid post-boost upper stage of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile. This was a designated product quality assurance (PQA) test, which is a full mission duty ground static test conducted in NASA's altitude test cell. The PQA test is performed to verify the quality of the PSRE after it is refurbished by the PSRE life-extension program (LEP). This test represents the last of seven PQA static tests for the PSRE LEP program.

The PSRE LEP program, initiated in 2000, is managed under a joint partnership between Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force. Aerojet and Boeing also support the program. The program is responsible for refurbishing the entire Minuteman III fleet of PSREs and extending its service life through 2030. Upon completion of the program last month, 558 PSREs will have been delivered to the Air Force.

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