Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS), which the company developed with the Army, would proceed with low rate initial production (LRIP).
The action stems from a successful Milestone C decision for the program, which the Department of Defense approved, and represents the next step in moving the program to future deployment.
“The decision by our senior leaders to transition IBCS from development into initial production reflects their confidence in the maturity of the system and its readiness for operational testing to inform Initial Operational Capability,” Maj. Gen. Rob Rasch, Army Program Executive Officer, Missiles and Space, said. “The soldiers of the 3-43 Air Defense Artillery Battalion performed tremendously in training and testing over the last year, and are poised to demonstrate the game-changing capabilities of IBCS next Fall during the Initial Operational Test & Evaluation.”
Northrop Grumman worked in partnership with the Army’s Integrated Fires Mission Command Program Office in the system engineering, design, development, and testing of IBCS hardware and software. The program has executed seven successful flight tests conducted under complex and operationally realistic conditions, demonstrating new capabilities the system will deliver upon fielding.
IBCS employs a net-centric integrated fire control network enabling the acquisition, identification, and engagement of air and missile threats.