Northrop Grumman’s contract for NATO’s Alliance Ground Surveillance system has an estimated value of $1.7 billion (€1.2 billion), according to the company’s release. The contract, signed on May 20 during NATO’s summit in Chicago, calls for Northrop Grumman’s transatlantic industry team to supply five RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 40 remotely piloted aircraft equipped with the Northrop Grumman-Raytheon MP-RTIP radar sensor. The industry team’s European contributors will be responsible for supplying the system’s different types of mobile, remote, and transportable ground stations. The contract is meant to cover the purchase, initial operation, and maintenance of these high-altitude, long-endurance RPA, which NATO intends to utilize for theater operations—such as protecting ground forces, maritime security, and counterterrorism—as well as peacekeeping missions and disaster-relief efforts. “Northrop Grumman and our entire transatlantic industry team are proud to be bringing this strategic capability to NATO and its member nations,” said Wes Bush, Northrop Grumman chairman, CEO, and president.
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.