Mary-Louise Hoffman
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman a two-year, $47 million contract to examine system and payload requirements for the first two polar space vehicles that will be built through the service branch’s Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared program.
Northrop will also conduct risk reduction efforts to support the Next-Gen OPIR initiative as part of the sole-source contract, the Defense Department said Monday.
Work will take place in Redondo Beach, Calif., through June 25, 2020. The Air Force will obligate $9 million in fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds at the time of award.
The service branch first announced its selection of Northrop and Lockheed Martin in May to help define program requirements.
USAF said it would also award Lockheed a sole-source contract to perform initial design work and procure flight hardware for a future geosynchronous missile warning satellite.
