Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to Compete for Next-Generation Interceptor

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA), in a competitive downselect phase, selected Lockheed Martin and partner Aerojet Rocketdyne and a Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Missiles & Defense team to develop and flight-test a Next-Generation Interceptor (NGI).  A competing offer from a third team led by Boeing was not selected to move forward.

The NGI program is an element of the MDA’s Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system,  which is the primary U.S. missile defense system used to defend the country from long-range ballistic missile attacks.

Northrop Grumman’s contract was valued at $3.9 billion (base: $2.6 billion; options: $1.3 billion).  Lockheed Martin’s award was $3.6 billion (base: $2.4 billion; options: $1.2 billion).

With an estimated maximum value of $1.6 billion through fiscal year 2022, this contract award is structured to carry two designs into the technology development and risk-reduction phase of the acquisition program to reduce technical and schedule risk.  The DoD will uphold “fly before you buy” principles to ensure the overall system and components have been rigorously flight-tested prior to making any procurement decisions.

Forecast International’s Missile Forecast provides global long-range forecasts for a wide range of missiles, including air-to-air, surface-to-air, strike, anti-armor, surface-to-surface, anti-ship, and anti-radiation systems, both developmental and in production. Air defense systems such as the Patriot, S-400, ASTER, Sea Ceptor, MEADS, and RBS70 make up the single largest segment of this overall market, fueled in part by the appearance of more advanced combat aircraft and the proliferation of ballistic missiles.  An annual subscription includes 134 individual reports, most with a 10-year unit production forecast.  Pricing begins at $2,295, with discounted full-library subscriptions available. Click here to learn more.

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A military history enthusiast, Richard began at Forecast International as editor of the World Weapons Weekly newsletter. As the Internet grew in importance as a research tool, he helped design the company's Forecast Intelligence Center and currently coordinates the EMarket Alert newsletters for clients. Richard also manages social media efforts, including two new blogs: Defense & Security Monitor, covering defense systems and international issues, and Flight Plan, which focuses on commercial aviation and space systems. For over 30 years, Richard has authored the Defense & Aerospace Companies, Volume I (North America) and Volume II (International) services. The two books provide detailed data on major aerospace and defense contractors. He also edits the International Contractors service, a database that tracks all the contractors involved in the programs covered in the FI library. More recently he was appointed Manager, Information Services Group (ISG), a new unit that encompasses developing outbound content for both Forecast International and Military Periscope.

About Richard Pettibone

A military history enthusiast, Richard began at Forecast International as editor of the World Weapons Weekly newsletter. As the Internet grew in importance as a research tool, he helped design the company's Forecast Intelligence Center and currently coordinates the EMarket Alert newsletters for clients. Richard also manages social media efforts, including two new blogs: Defense & Security Monitor, covering defense systems and international issues, and Flight Plan, which focuses on commercial aviation and space systems. For over 30 years, Richard has authored the Defense & Aerospace Companies, Volume I (North America) and Volume II (International) services. The two books provide detailed data on major aerospace and defense contractors. He also edits the International Contractors service, a database that tracks all the contractors involved in the programs covered in the FI library. More recently he was appointed Manager, Information Services Group (ISG), a new unit that encompasses developing outbound content for both Forecast International and Military Periscope.

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