Northrop Grumman Celebrates Major Expansion of Melbourne Campus to Support Sixth-Generation Airpower

Northrop Grumman employees celebrated a new Florida facility with federal, state and local officials during an employee engagement event. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)

MELBOURNE, Fla. - Aug. 3, 2026 - (PHOTO RELEASE) Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) showcased its leading role in Florida's aerospace and defense industry with an employee celebration at its Melbourne campus, home to a 5,000-strong workforce and 2 million square feet of facilities space. The event was held inside the high-bay of the company's newest facility, surrounded by local, state and federal leaders.

"We're continuing to grow in Florida, turning years of investment and experience into real capabilities our warfighters need. This facility reinforces Melbourne as the epicenter of sixth-generation aircraft," said Tom Jones, corporate vice president and president, Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems. "Most times, we host ribbon-cuttings when we open the doors to a new facility. In our world, we also celebrate by closing them, because our people are about to get to work on things in this facility that we can't talk about. Between these walls in just a few months, we will have cutting-edge labs, and hundreds of skilled engineers coming together in a world-class facility. This is what momentum looks like."

The event spotlighted Melbourne's expanding role in next-generation aircraft design and development, anchored by the new 300,000-square-foot engineering facility that reflects the site's growth and expanding role in America's defense industrial base. Featuring space for over 1,200 engineers and 17 secure laboratories dedicated to advanced aircraft design, the Melbourne site exemplifies Northrop Grumman's commitment to building the workforce, technology and infrastructure required to deliver next-generation airpower. Together, these investments position Florida as a long-term hub for innovation, stability and opportunity in support of the nation's most critical defense programs.

The event included remarks from Northrop Grumman's Tom Jones; U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos (FL-8); Florida Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly; and Florida State Sen. Debbie Mayfield (District 19).

Northrop Grumman contributes to Florida's economy through its nearly 8,000 employees and over 500 supplier partners, generating more than $10 billion in annual economic output, according to a recent study.