Global Power Made in America: Northrop Grumman Makes it in Utah

Utah blends breathtaking scenery with cutting edge innovation, from the crimson cliffs of Zion National Park to the high-tech corridor of Silicon Slopes along the Wasatch Front. For more than eight decades, the state's abundance of space, talent and ingenuity has made it a hub for Northrop Grumman's manufacturing, research and development, supporting many of the company's most critical contributions to U.S. national security and to warfighters around the world.

Northrop Grumman manufactures critical propulsion components in Utah, such as performing the case winding process for the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)

Across multiple sites, here's how Northrop Grumman's work in Utah propels American manufacturing forward while delivering critical capabilities for defense and space:

• Strategic Investment: Building a Defense Economy. Northrop Grumman's partnership with Utah communities and service members is longstanding and transformative. As the largest defense employer in Utah, Northrop Grumman directly employs over 10,000 Utahns and, according to a recent study, supports more than 46,000 jobs across the state, generating over $12 billion for the economy.
• Digital Innovation & Systems Integration Hub. Located outside of Hill Air Force Base, the Roy Innovation Center (RIC) is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and resources where development, testing, and integration of missile systems occur. This includes advanced manufacturing capabilities and high-tech laboratories to support the Sentinel program. The RIC's proximity to Hill Air Force Base and to propulsion test facilities at Promontory enables rapid coordination, design maturation, and verification for a mission-critical, no-fail Sentinel strategic deterrence system.
• Propulsion Powerhouse. With 4.6 million square feet of manufacturing space - approximately the size of 80 football fields - Northrop Grumman designs, manufactures and tests a variety of solid rocket motors in Promontory and Bacchus. These sites support full-scale propellant mixing and casting, motor case fabrication, assembly and static test firing, enabling end-to-end validation of propulsion systems under real-world conditions. Some of the largest and most powerful rocket motors ever produced are made and tested on these campuses, propelling the future of space exploration and national security programs.
• Accelerating Innovation. Innovation at Promontory is accelerated through Northrop Grumman's Solid Motor Annual Rocket Technology Demonstrator (SMART Demo). This annual end-to-end effort integrates design, analysis, manufacturing, tooling and test into a rapid development cycle. The SMART Demo is used to mature new propulsion designs, qualify materials and processes and demonstrate manufacturability at scale. Through additive manufacturing and advanced tooling, Northrop Grumman has reduced lead times for certain long-lead components and nozzle structures by up to 75%, demonstrating cost-effective and versatile solutions.
• Advanced Manufacturing. In Salt Lake City, Northrop Grumman has invested over $110 million in its Copper Crossing campus to expand, update and convert one of its facilities from a logistical and distribution center to an advanced manufacturing hub that makes solid rocket motors, increasing Northrop Grumman's capacity for this critical capability. Additionally, the company's Clearfield site produces advanced composite aerospace structures through highly automated and fabrication processes. The facility specializes in precision composite forming, layup, curing and finishing, delivering lightweight, high-strength components that integrate into mission-critical platforms across domains, including air and space.

Northop Grumman's enduring presence in Utah reflects the power of aligning physical scale, engineering excellence, and trusted partnership to deliver mission-critical capabilities. Together, these operations strengthen America's defense industrial base while ensuring Utah remains a cornerstone of advanced manufacturing, innovation and national security.

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.