Defense Acquisition Board Oks FRP of Northrop’s Integrated Battle Command System

Northrop Grumman can move forward with full-rate production (FRP) of the U.S. Army’s Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) after a defense acquisition board issued the FRP decision.

The decision scales the U.S. Army’s ability to field the system, enabling sensor to decider to weapon integration. It also affirms IBCS’s role as the cornerstone of the U.S. Army’s air and missile defense modernization strategy.

IBCS integrates all available sensors and shooters to deliver decision-quality fire control data across joint networks providing a 360-degree view, even if a sensor becomes inoperable. This capability provides increased situational awareness, more effectively manages resources, and enables integration across coalition partners.

IBCS fuses data from any sensor to create a single integrated air picture allowing commanders to see the battlespace and use the best weapons to defeat complex threats, said Rebecca Torzone, vice president and general manager, combat systems and mission readiness, Northrop Grumman.

The full rate production decision enables the U.S. Army to set the fielding schedule for IBCS to operational air defense units.

Poland selected IBCS to serve as the centerpiece of the country’s air and missile defense modernization, and as it is adopted by more U.S. allies and partners, IBCS will enable high levels of coalition forces interoperability and network integration.

In 2022, IBCS successfully intercepted a cruise missile target using a Patriot interceptor without having a Patriot radar in the system architecture. The test demonstrated the flexibility of the IBCS system architecture and its capacity to optimize the capabilities of integrated sensors and effectors onto its network. Additionally, the Agile framework used for IBCS software development yields rapid capability enhancements and addresses emerging threats.

In December 2021, Northrop Grumman was awarded a $1.4 billion production contract for Low Rate Initial Production and Full Rate Production, and in late 2022, the program completed Initial Operational Test and Evaluation. Initial operational capability for IBCS is on track for a declaration in 2023.