Aerospace Manufacturing

Northrop Grumman builds hybrid electric X-Plane for DARPA

Northrop Grumman has announced the design and construction of the Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion AiRcraft Demonstration (SHEPARD) vehicle.

11th July 2024

5 facts about B-21 stealth bomber as it continues flight test

Benefiting from more than three decades of strike and stealth technology innovation, the B-21 stealth bomber is the next evolution of the US Air Force (USAF) strategic bomber.

10th July 2024

Northrop Grumman’s VTOL X-plane advances to next phase

Northrop Grumman has been selected by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for the next design phase of its autonomous vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

29th May 2024

B-21 stealth bomber continues flight test and production

Following its unveiling in 2022, the B-21 Raider stealth bomber began flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base where it continues to make progress toward becoming the backbone of the US Air Force bomber fleet.

23rd May 2024

Northrop Grumman tests digitally designed large solid rocket motor

Northrop Grumman’s Common 50 High Performance (C50HP) solid rocket motor successfully completed a static fire test at the US Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Complex.

23rd May 2024

Northrop Grumman awards 70 suppliers for delivering excellence

Northrop Grumman has honoured more than 70 suppliers for their outstanding contributions in 2023

25th March 2024

Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider is now in production, USAF confirms

The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider is now in production, the US Pentagon acquisition chief confirmed earlier this week.

26th January 2024

Jon Egging Trust celebrates support of Northrop Grumman

Youth charity the Jon Egging Trust (JET) has renewed its partnership with Northrop Grumman for the tenth consecutive year.

19th December 2023

Watch USAF's new B-21 stealth bomber take its first flight

Video footage has emerged of the B-21 Raider, a new sixth generation stealth bomber under development at Northrop Grumman for the US Air Force, flying for the first time.

15th November 2023

Northrop Grumman awarded $705m F-35 missile contract

The US Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman an approximately $705m contract to deliver the Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW), an air-to-ground weapon that accelerates the pivot to a new generation of air power.

28th September 2023

Here’s all official photos of B-21 stealth bomber since unveiling

Since it’s unveiling to the public in December 2022, the US Air Force and its industry partner, Northrop Grumman, have been steadily releasing new photos of the new stealth bomber.

2nd October 2023

USAF gives update on B-21 Raider as new photos released

At last week’s Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference, US Air Force and Department of Defense (DoD) leadership discussed the B-21 programme’s development.

19th September 2023

B-21 stealth bomber begins engine runs ahead of first flight

The B-21 Raider, a sixth generation stealth bomber in development for the US Air Force, has commenced engine runs as part of its ground test programme at Northrop Grumman’s Palmdale, California facility.

13th September 2023

New interceptor rocket motor cases produced by Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman has successfully manufactured the first set of solid rocket motor cases for the US Missile Defense Agency’s Next-Generation Interceptor (NGI) programme.

9th August 2023

Northrop Grumman opens hypersonic engine manufacturing facility

Northrop Grumman has opened a Hypersonics Capability Center (HCC) in Elkton, Maryland to produce advanced propulsion solutions that can power hypersonic missiles beyond Mach 5.

4th August 2023

Work starts on new F-35 centre fuselage assembly line in Germany

Northrop Grumman, Rheinmetall, Lockheed Martin and German officials have joined for a ground-breaking ceremony in Weeze, Germany to establish a second F-35 centre fuselage Integrated Assembly Line (IAL) with Rheinmetall.

2nd August 2023

B-21 stealth bomber powered on ahead of first flight this year

The first B-21 Raider stealth bomber has been powered on, the aircraft’s latest milestone as it is prepared by Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force for its first flight.

31st July 2023

Northrop Grumman to design autonomous aircraft for DARPA

Northrop Grumman has been awarded a contract by the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s (DARPA) Tactical Technology Office to design an autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft system capable of operating from a moving Navy ship at sea.

14th July 2023

Northrop Grumman produces 2,000th rocket motor for US Navy

Northrop Grumman has successfully manufactured 2,000 solid rocket motors for the US Navy’s Trident II D5 Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) system, with the completion of first-stage A1000 and second-stage B1000 motors.

23rd June 2023

New images of B-21 stealth bomber emerge ahead of first flight

Two new images of the B-21 Raider have been released by the US Air Force as the aircraft is prepared for its first flight later this year.

8th March 2023

60 Northrop Grumman suppliers awarded excellence awards

From a global network of more than 10,000 suppliers, 60 Northrop Grumman partners stood out in 2022 to be recognized with a Supplier Excellence Award.

3rd March 2023

Northrop Grumman develops next gen radar for F-35

Northrop Grumman is developing AN/APG-85, an advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar for the F-35.

11th January 2023

Era of sixth generation aircraft era begins with B-21 Raider

The B-21 Raider, a collaboration between Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force, has been revealed as a new era of sixth generation aircraft begins.

6th December 2022

Key facts about B-21 stealth bomber ahead of Friday’s unveiling

Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider stealth bomber will be unveiled on Friday 2nd December at the company’s site in Palmdale, California.

29th November 2022

First Northrop Grumman MESA sensor installed for RAF E-7 Wedgetail

Northrop Grumman’s first Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) sensor was successfully installed on an E-7 Wedgetail Mk1 Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft for the UK’s Royal Air Force.

7th November 2022

Northrop Grumman taps Australian-made parts for F-35 programme

Northrop Grumman has signed a six-year agreement with Quickstep Holdings for the supply of components to support the F-35 programme.

3rd November 2022

B-21 stealth bomber data sharing and digital twin deal signed

Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force have signed an industry-first data rights agreement, opening B-21 data access and collaboration across the programme, including the launch of a digital twin shared environment.

26th September 2022

Timing of B-21 stealth bomber's official unveiling agreed by Northrop Grumman, USAF

Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force will reveal the B-21 Raider stealth bomber for the first time in December.

21st September 2022

Northrop Grumman accelerates hypersonic materials development

Northrop Grumman is accelerating development of high temperature materials through an automated carbon-carbon manufacturing process.

13th September 2022

Northrop Grumman continues B-2 modernisation effort with new upgrades

Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force are continuing enhancements to the B-2 Spirit Stealth bomber fleet, the company has announced.

26th August 2022

B-21 stealth bomber to finally be revealed in coming months

The B-21 Raider stealth bomber will be finally unveiled to the public later this year, a US senator has said following a classified visit to the programme production facility.

12th August 2022

Northrop and Boom join forces on supersonic military aircraft

A new supersonic aircraft tailored to provide quick-reaction capabilities to the US military and allies will be offered through a collaborative agreement between Northrop Grumman Corporation and Boom Supersonic.

19th July 2022

Northrop Grumman to increase solid rocket booster production

Northrop Grumman has won a multi-year contract worth more than $2bn from United Launch Alliance (ULA) for increased production of its Graphite Epoxy Motor (GEM 63) solid rocket booster and the extended length variation (GEM 63XL).

9th June 2022

B-21 stealth bomber completes first phase of ground testing

Northrop Grumman has successfully completed the first and most critical loads calibration test of the first B-21 Raider aircraft.

25th May 2022

B-21 stealth bomber production is being accelerated

The US Air Force (USAF) is accelerating manufacturing of its new stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider, ahead of its public roll-out and first flight this year.

4th May 2022

Northrop Grumman awarded $108m B-21 bomber contract

Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $108m B-21 Raider contract by the US Air Force for advance procurement to support the stealth bomber programme.

8th April 2022

B-21 stealth bomber holding to schedule as ground testing begins

The first B-21 stealth bomber has entered its ground testing phase ahead of a public roll-out and first flight this year.

7th March 2022

Northrop Grumman has now delivered 900 F-35 centre fuselages

Northrop Grumman has announced the delivery of the 900th centre fuselage for the F-35 fighter jet programme.

16th February 2022

Six B-21 stealth bombers are now in production, USAF confirms

A sixth B-21 Raider stealth bomber is now in assembly, the US Air Force has confirmed ahead of the aircraft’s public roll-out this year.

10th February 2022

Northrop Grumman hits new precision strike missile test milestone

Northrop Grumman has successfully completed a static test of its Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) rocket motor as part of its motor qualification effort.

5th January 2022

Northrop Grumman hits MQ-4C Triton production milestone

Northrop Grumman has completed a significant milestone in the production of Australia’s first MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) aircraft.

21st December 2021

Northrop Grumman wins $3bn NASA rocket booster contract

NASA has awarded Northrop Grumman a booster production and operations contract valued up to $3.19bn to support the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket through 2031.

6th December 2021

Northrop Grumman achieves land-based ICBM manufacturing milestone

Northrop Grumman has achieved a key manufacturing milestone for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) first-stage solid rocket motor, the company has announced.

15th November 2021

Northrop Grumman opens new GBSD development facility

Northrop Grumman has opened a new facility in Huntsville to support the US Air Force’s Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) programme.

13th October 2021

Five B-21 stealth bombers are now in assembly thanks to new digital tools

Five B-21 Raider test aircraft are now in production, the US Air Force has revealed at the Air Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference.

23rd September 2021

First five B-21 stealth bombers now in production with Northrop Grumman

Five B-21 Raiders are currently in production at Northrop Grumman's facility at Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, a US Air Force official has confirmed.

21st September 2021

Northrop Grumman AARGM-ER missile to enter production for US Navy

Northrop Grumman can enter low rate initial production of its AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Extended Range (AARGM-ER) developed for the US Navy.

6th September 2021

Unarmed Minuteman ICBM launch tests new re-entry vehicle

An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with a test re-entry vehicle has launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

12th August 2021

Here’s all the images of the B-21 stealth bomber released so far

While the B-21 Raider has not been officially revealed yet, the US Air Force has been releasing limited ‘artist rendering graphics’ in the lead up to its first flight in 2022.

5th August 2021

Northrop Grumman to build Hypersonics Center of Excellence

Northrop Grumman has broken ground on a hypersonic weapons centre of excellence to support the US military and its allies.

13th July 2021

Northrop Grumman joins Space Park Leicester

Northrop Grumman says it is joining Space Park Leicester to co-locate with the researchers, scientists and engineers who will lead exciting future developments in the UK and international space market.

9th July 2021

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