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Northrop Grumman has successfully completed a critical design review for Relay Ground Station-Asia for a contract with the US Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific on behalf of the US Space Force’s Space Systems Command.
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The critical design review (CDR) confirms Northrop Grumman’s ability to transform the existing missile-warning system for a 2025 installation date, 18 months prior to the end of the contract.
When completed, the Relay Ground Station-Asia (RGS-A) will support the operation of legacy and future missile-warning satellites.
Northrop Grumman worked with L3Harris Technologies to validate the designs during the CDR, which took place only four months after a successful preliminary design review, which was also completed early.
Calvin Pennamon, director, operational exploitation systems, Northrop Grumman, said, “Completing this CDR ahead of schedule showcases our commitment and ability to quickly respond to the NIWC Pacific’s pressing schedule requirements.”
The CDR included various subsystem designs, validation, and verification plans and methodology, and final details of the system integration at the deployed location in Guam.
The Relay Ground Station-Asia (RGS-A) is a critical component of the nation’s missile-warning system that will enable the US Space Force’s Space Systems Command to transform the existing missile-warning system with the Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) system.
“We are on track to revolutionise current Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) and Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) missile-warning constellation infrastructure with a much-needed capability in the Pacific region,” Pennamon explained.
A cornerstone of the FORGE architecture includes developing relay ground stations capable of supporting existing and new satellite constellations with the ability to handle changes in bandwidth and availability.
