The U.S. Army has awarded Northrop Grumman Corp. a $289-million contract to continue system design and development toward fielding of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS). As part of the contract, Northrop Grumman will upgrade IBCS engagement operations centers and integrated fire-control network relays to enhance performance, reliability, and maintainability.
The company will also develop and deliver version 4.5 of the IBCS software to integrate Patriot system updates and incorporate updates for evolving threats. The contract includes Northrop Grumman’s providing logistics, training, and support for system testing, including a flight testing planned for late 2019.
“IBCS creates a paradigm shift for IAMD, and we have proven many transformational capabilities that will be game-changers on the battlefield,” said Dan Verwiel, vice president and general manager of Missile Defense and Protective Systems for Northrop Grumman. “IBCS maximizes the combat potential of sensors and weapons while allowing future modernization at lower overall lifecycle costs.
“From integrating weapons developed decades ago with capabilities still in development, to rapidly adding protection against emerging threats and enabling seamless multi-domain operations, through logistics, training and lifecycle support, IBCS is solving some of the most difficult defense challenges confronting our nation and allies today,” he continued. “We are honored to continue working shoulder-to-shoulder with the Army to get next-generation IAMD to the warfighter.”
IBCS is part of the Army’s IAMD modernization program. It features proven capability to integrate radars and weapons over wide areas while maintaining voice and data connectivity. By proving disparate radars and weapons can operate as nodes in a far-more-effective IAMD enterprise, IBCS offers the advantages of expanded sensor and effector combinations and a component-based acquisition approach.
IBCS contributes to a Link 16 network with Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Army participants to counter electronic attacks. program is managed by the Army Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.
