Northrop Grumman reported the data integration center it opened recently in Madison, Ala. – in support of the U.S. Army’s expanding Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) – will help to accelerate high-rate manufacturing of critical capabilities for that defense network.
IBCS is a command and control system that unifies current and future systems from any source, service, or domain. It is network-enabled, modular, open, and scalable, and fuses sensor data for a single actionable presentation of a battlespace, giving warfighters the time and data to make decisions on how best to defeat threats.
The Enhanced Production and Integration Center (EPIC) doubles the size of the previous center and has over 129,500 square feet of flexible production space, and 175,500 square feet of covered production space. It also has 35,000 square feet of office space and can accommodate over several hundred employees. The center’s fully digital approach to the design and build process will streamline the IBCS development.
Northrop stated that its $20-million investment is coming online at a critical time when air and missile defense is a high priority for the U.S. and its allies. The IBCS was conceived to be a data center for air and missile defense, coordinating 360-degree radar and missile launch capability, but that idea was later expanded so that the system also connects with other sensors and launch systems on the battlefield.
The expanded role reportedly has delayed the full deployment of the IBCS, and also created international demand for similar functionalities. While IBCS is in production it has currently fielded in Poland, and it is planned for fielding in Combatant Commands in Europe and the Indo-Pacific as part of the U.S. Army program of record for integrated air and missile defense modernization.
Kenn Todorov, Northrop Grumman’s vice president and general manager for command and control & weapons integration, stated: “Our investment in American manufacturing with this new facility enables us to continue supporting critical modernization efforts such as producing capabilities like IBCS at scale and speed.
“With this investment, we’re doubling our integration space and significantly enhancing our storage and classified testing capabilities, ensuring America leads the world in military strength,” Todorov added
