Northrop Grumman Secures $900M in 3 U.S. Defense Contracts as Space Force Leads With $398M
Updated
Updated · virginiabusiness.com · May 19
Northrop Grumman Secures $900M in 3 U.S. Defense Contracts as Space Force Leads With $398M
2 articles · Updated · virginiabusiness.com · May 19
$919.6 million in Pentagon awards went to Northrop Grumman last week, spanning a Space Force satellite prototype, an Army airborne test platform and Navy support for the MQ-4C Triton.
$398 million of the total funds Enhanced Protected Tactical SATCOM-Prototype work, aimed at keeping communications resilient in contested, jammed environments; the satellite is slated to launch no earlier than fiscal 2030.
$325.5 million from the Army will fund the RangeHawk universal payload architecture prototype in San Diego through May 2031, including aircraft modification, sensor integration and test logistics.
$196.1 million from the Navy extends logistics, testing and technical support for the Triton surveillance drone fleet used by the U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Air Force, with work running through May 2027.
The awards add to a growing defense backlog for Northrop Grumman, which reported $41.95 billion in 2025 revenue and employs about 100,000 people.
After canceling a $2.4B program, is this prototype a smarter path for America's space dominance?
How does this anti-jam satellite fit into President Trump's 'Golden Dome' missile defense architecture?
Northrop Grumman Wins $398M Contract as Space Force Accelerates $2B Protected Tactical SATCOM Upgrade
Overview
In May 2026, the U.S. Space Force awarded Northrop Grumman a major contract to develop the Enhanced Protected Tactical Satellite Communications-Prototype (Enhanced PTS-P), marking a new phase in secure military communications. This initiative aims to create a next-generation anti-jam SATCOM system, addressing the urgent need for robust communications that can withstand advanced electronic warfare threats in contested environments. Building on Northrop Grumman’s prior experience and earlier Space Force efforts with both Northrop Grumman and Boeing, Enhanced PTS-P is vital for ensuring tactical users can operate confidently and securely, even under challenging conditions.