Global Power Made in America: Northrop Grumman Makes it in West Virginia

Allegany Ballistics Laboratory Campus, Rocket Center, WV

Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, the Naval Industrial Reserve Ordnance Plant, at the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (ABL) is more than a manufacturing site - it's a strategic cornerstone of American defense readiness. With a legacy that stretches back to World War II, ABL is meeting the demands of today while laying the groundwork for the technologies of tomorrow.

Here's how Northrop Grumman's work at ABL, in partnership with the Navy, is propelling American manufacturing and national security from the heart of West Virginia:

Rocket Propellant Synthesis and Mixing Facility, Rocket Center, WV

• Powering the Fight: Producing Tactical Rocket Motors. Many of the nation's tactical solid rocket motors, a critical component in enabling, precision, range, and lethality across a wide array of missile systems are made at ABL. These propulsion systems serve as the backbone for some of the military's most relied-upon weapons and continue to evolve to meet emerging threats.

• Committed to Innovation: Investing in ABL. Northrop Grumman has invested millions since 2018 to expand and modernize ABL, including a new 113,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. Designed for speed, scalability and precision, this modular production facility represents the future of defense manufacturing. Equipped with advanced automation and data-driven process controls, this facility will boost ABL's already robust capacity with an additional 300 strike missiles per year, reduce lead times and enhance quality assurance from start to finish.

• Manufacturing Strength, Local Impact. Northrop Grumman manufacturers and delivers the most advanced defense and national security solutions - made right here in America - in a way that uplifts the communities where the company operates and invests. At ABL, Northrop Grumman employs more than 1,600 people, and its activities support up to 3,000 additional jobs across the state, generating over $1 billion in economic activity.

• Rethinking How We Build: Innovation in Every Step. Challenging production norms, Northrop Grumman is disrupting the time-consuming process of casting ductile iron shells for 155 mm artillery by developing innovative manufacturing techniques. These innovations have the potential to facilitate production of up to 150,000 rounds annually at a lower unit cost, transforming how the U.S. government manufactures ammunition.

Munitions Manufacturing, Rocket Center, WV

• Advancing Energetics and Propulsion: Faster, Smarter, More Capable. Northrop Grumman advances our legacy of disruption in rocket motor production through the Accelerated Development of Advanced Propulsion Technology (ADAPT) program. By accelerating the adoption of additive manufacturing, advanced materials, and alternative suppliers, ADAPT in conjunction with the Solid Motor Annual Rocket Technology Demonstrator program is driving down production lead times for key components. These advancements streamline the manufacturing process while creating more capable and efficient motor designs.

With a legacy of disrupting the status quo, and current efforts to remain at the forefront of modernized capabilities, with a workforce rooted in purpose, ABL is powering the next generation of American defense from the mountains of West Virginia to the front lines of tomorrow.

With nearly 100,000 employees and over 30 million square feet of manufacturing space - more than 500 football fields - Northrop Grumman has the capacity, scale, and agility to drive innovation at unprecedented speeds. The company's manufacturing approaches do more than just produce; they accelerate and enhance the entire process from design and development to production and testing. Northrop Grumman has invested in U.S. infrastructure, R&D, its workforce, and its supply chain to deliver today and tomorrow's national security needs.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers' toughest problems, our employees define possible every day.