Northrop Grumman, USAF Conduct Integrated Baseline Review Of Enhanced Polar System

Northrop Grumman has successfully conducted the integrated baseline review (IBR) of the production, deployment and initial sustainment phase for the Enhanced Polar System (EPS) Control and Planning Segment (CAPS).

The U.S. Air Force's EPS provides space-enabled, secure communications capabilities to polar users in support of national objectives. EPS CAPS receives telemetry and supplies configuration commands, mission and cryptographic planning for the EPS payload.

The Military Satellite Communications Systems (MILSATCOM) directorate at the Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is acquiring EPS and EPS CAPS.

The IBR assessed resources allocated to EPS CAPS and demonstrated how anticipated risks would be tracked and managed. The program also successfully completed an IBR during the design and risk-reduction phase.

Linnie Haynesworth, vice president and general manager, Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance division, Northrop Grumman Information Systems sector, said, "The Northrop Grumman team in partnership with the MILSATCOM customer have worked very hard the past several months to ensure this second IBR shows the program is ready for this next phase. I'm confident the team has a clear path for success ahead."

The IBR focused on EPS CAPS technical baseline, including an assessment of potential risks associated with the program's technical performance, cost, schedule and resources. The reviewers unanimously agreed the program is executable with resolution of actions and adherence to risk management measures. Future program milestones will focus on software development, followed by segment and system tests with the other EPS segments over the next two years.

Northrop Grumman was awarded the EPS CAPS contract in November 2012. The base contract for segment design and risk-reduction efforts was completed earlier this year. The current phase of the contract covers the next 48 months to complete CAPS development, deployment and initial sustainment. Primary design, development and testing are being done in Redondo Beach, California, with additional CAPS work performed in Orlando, Florida, and Needham and Marlborough, Massachusetts.

The CAPS design leverages Northrop Grumman's ability to quickly deliver innovative national space security products and establishes a pathfinder for affordable, scalable mission control capability for any variety of future protected satellite communications architecture options the company may pursue.