Northrop Grumman Corporation’s
Integrated Systems Sector (ISS) has been awarded an $86.6 million
systems engineering and risk-reduction contract under the first phase of
NASA’s Space Launch Initiative (SLI).
The initiative is designed to develop
technologies and perform systems engineering leading to a second-generation
reusable launch vehicle (RLV).
SLI is laying the foundation for NASA’s investment during the next five
years to enable the start of full-scale development of the next generation RLV
architecture to eventually replace the Space Shuttle.
NASA’s planned budget
for SLI totals $4.8 billion through the 2006 fiscal year.
Under the four-year contract, Northrop Grumman will perform program
management, systems integration and technology integration in the areas of
structure, subsystems and integrated vehicle health management.
Northrop Grumman’s effort will be led by ‘ISS’s Air Combat Systems
business area in El Segundo, which has supported studies in earlier stages of
the RLV program.
The company’s work leverages its systems integration
capability as well as advanced technologies derived from years of experience
in the design and development of advanced weapons systems, such as the B-2
stealth bomber; Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance system; the E-8 Joint
Surveillance Target Attack System; E-2C airborne early warning command and
control aircraft; and a significant portion of the F/A-18 Super Hornet.
Northrop Grumman’s ISS, based in Dallas, Tex., is a premier aerospace
systems integration enterprise.
ISS has the capabilities to design, develop,
integrate, produce and support complete systems, as well as airframe
subsystems, for airborne surveillance and battle management aircraft, early
warning aircraft, airborne electronic warfare aircraft and air combat
aircraft.
