Northrop Grumman Partnering with US Navy to Transition Fleet to Automated, Digital Navigation and Mission Planning

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Nov. 2, 2026- Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) is advancing the U.S. Navy's next-generation navigation capabilities for surface ships with the AN/WSN-12 Navigation Processor Module (NPM), which will be provided through a three-year, low-rate initial production award. This three-year award builds on Northrop Grumman's decades of expertise in providing trusted navigation systems to the fleet and underscores the company's commitment to supporting the Navy's mission over the long term.

• The AN/WSN-12 is the Navy's successor to the long-standing AN/WSN-7 - also a Northrop Grumman product - that's currently deployed across the fleet. The NPM processes and distributes navigation information, helping crews safely execute missions and employ weapons with greater confidence.

Under this award, Northrop Grumman will continue production of the AN/WSN-12 NPM units to support upcoming ship installations across multiple platforms. The NPM integrates with the system's Inertial Sensor Module, which is also designed and produced by the company.

Expert:

Erika Herbert, vice president, naval & oceanic systems, Northrop Grumman: "Assured navigation is critical for the Navy's surface and subsurface fleets. With the AN/WSN-12 in production, we're delivering a more accurate and resilient navigation solution that helps crews safely operate and employ weapons."

The AN/WSN-12 navigation cabinet, integrating the Navigation Processor Module now in Low-Rate Initial Production paired with the fielded Inertial Sensor Module. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)

Details:

The NPM is a critical component for the AN/WSN-12 system, delivering highly accurate and continuously available navigation data to shipboard combat systems, weapons and mission planning tools.

Building on decades of performance at sea with the AN/WSN-7, the AN/WSN-12 system is an upgrade that can be integrated across a wide range of Navy platforms. It supports the Navy's broader transition to more automated, digital navigation and mission planning.

Northrop Grumman's navigation technology provides optimal situational awareness for ship watch officers carrying out their missions. Integrated bridge systems, WSN-7 and WSN-12 inertial navigators, and electronic charting increase safety and enable full flexibility for data access.

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.