New satellite payloads for continuous early-warning missile detection

The US Space Force has awarded Northrop Grumman and Ball Aerospace a US$2.37-billion contract to design and build two sensor payloads for a pair of polar-orbiting satellites intended to warn of ballistic and hypersonic missile launches.Continue Reading… Continue reading New satellite payloads for continuous early-warning missile detection

SpaceX to launch Northrop Grumman’s robotic satellite repair spacecraft

Northrop Grumman’s SpaceLogistics subsidiary has signed an agreement with SpaceX and Australian telecommunications company Optus to put its Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) spacecraft and Mission Extension Pod (MEP) into regular commercial service.Continu… Continue reading SpaceX to launch Northrop Grumman’s robotic satellite repair spacecraft

AI assistant to teach military pilots how to deal with the unexpected

DARPA has selected Northrop Grumman and the University of Central Florida to develop a prototype augmented reality headset embedded with an AI assistant to help train rotorcraft pilots to deal with unexpected tasks and emergencies.Continue ReadingCateg… Continue reading AI assistant to teach military pilots how to deal with the unexpected

“History-making” test flight of scramjet-powered hypersonic missile

Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Northrop Grumman successfully test flew an air-breathing hypersonic missile on September 20, 2021. Part of a program for DARPA and the US Air Force, the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) prototype promises h… Continue reading “History-making” test flight of scramjet-powered hypersonic missile

Flight testing of future tactical drone for the US Army completed

Northrop Grumman and Martin UAV have completed flight tests of an improved version of Martin’s V-BAT unmanned aircraft system (UAS) as part of the US Army’s Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS) competition to replace the aging RQ-7B Shadow … Continue reading Flight testing of future tactical drone for the US Army completed

James Webb Space Telescope completes its final testing phase

We don’t want to count our chickens just yet, but it looks like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) might actually launch in October, for real this time. The perennially delayed instrument has completed its final tests and is now being prepped for sh… Continue reading James Webb Space Telescope completes its final testing phase

MQ-25 refueling drone put to the test in manned-unmanned virtual exercise

In anticipation of the day when drones routinely refuel US Navy planes in the air, Boeing and Northrop Grumman have carried out carrier air wing team refueling in a simulation. The virtual Manned-UnManned Teaming (MUM-T) capabilities exercise included … Continue reading MQ-25 refueling drone put to the test in manned-unmanned virtual exercise

Multi-intelligence version of the MQ-4C drone flies for first time

A Northrop Grumann MQ-4C Triton drone equipped with a highly upgraded multi-intelligence package, called Integrated Functional Capability Four (IFC-4), has taken to the air for the first time. The turbofan-powered robotic aircraft in its new configurat… Continue reading Multi-intelligence version of the MQ-4C drone flies for first time

US Air Force releases new image of the B-21 Raider nuclear bomber

The US Air Force has released a new digital rendering of its B-21 Raider heavy strategic nuclear bomber, along with more information about the warplane. It’s being built by Northrop Grumman as part of the Air Force’s Long-Range Strike Bomber program to… Continue reading US Air Force releases new image of the B-21 Raider nuclear bomber

US Space Force launches tactical satellite with only 21 days notice

The US Space Force has launched a tactical satellite developed in only four months with only 21 days notice. On June 13 at 4:11 am EDT, the Tactically Responsive Launch-2 (TacRL-2) demonstration satellite was launched on a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL r… Continue reading US Space Force launches tactical satellite with only 21 days notice