Northrop Grumman Wins $422 Million SIBRS Sensor Payload Contract

Northrop Grumman has won a $422 million contract from Lockheed Martin to produce sensor payloads on the fifth and sixth Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites, known as GEO-5 and GEO-6, the company said in a statement.

The U.S. Air Force's SBIRS provides the nation with continuous early warning of ballistic missile launches and other tactical intelligence. 

"Northrop Grumman looks forward to joining our partner and prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, to produce the GEO-5/6 IR payloads," said Anne Ostroff, vice president of the Military/Civil Space and Ground business area, Northrop Grumman.

"We are committed to reducing cost and payload development cycle times, while still providing exceptional data to our military and intelligence stake holders," he added.