The Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman a contract worth up to $21.9 million to provide planning for mission integration and software development approaches for the ground-based processing segment on the Alternative Infrared Satellite System research and development program, according to a company release. The Air Force is pursuing AIRSS as an alternate to the Space-Based Infrared System satellite. Earlier this year, Northrop received a $24.8 million contract to define performance requirements.
With a fresh directive from the president, the department could opt to repeat its unconventional—and potentially unlawful—move to pay troops using unused non-personnel appropriations.
