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

Northrop Grumman builds the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye - the world's leadingairborne early warning andcontrol aircraft - from start to finish in St. Augustine, Florida. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)

From the Emerald Coast to the Paradise Coast, defense manufacturing has long been an economic driver for Florida. Defense spending continues to increase in the state, leading to new innovations that help move the industry forward. One of the companies leading this innovation is Northrop Grumman, whose statewide presencespans 17 sites and1.3 million square feetof manufacturing space- enoughto cover nearly 23football fields, including the iconic Raymond James, Hard Rockand EverbankStadiums. From designing sixth-generation aircraftto some of the world's most powerful microchips, here's how Northrop Grumman's work in Floridais propelling American manufacturing:

• Force-Multiplying Aircraft: The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye. Opening in 1994, Northrop Grumman's E-2production line, now locatedin St. Augustine,is the longest-running production line in naval aviation history.On the production line, more than 30,000 parts come into one end of the building, and a completed aircraftrolls out the other. The site has grown exponentially in the past 31 years to include virtual environments and augmented reality as part of production, making it a hub of manufacturing excellence. The design and engineering of the aircraft takeplace just south at theMelbourne site. Northrop Grumman is critical to the E-2platform's nearly70-yearhistory. As this command-and-control aircraft is a cornerstone of battlefield integration across complex theaters and contested environments, the company is continuing to modernize the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye for U.S. and international customers.

• Race to Space: Booster Fabrication Facility. Northrop Grumman is no stranger to space, having built the iconic Lunar Module that took the United States to the moon. Today at Kennedy Space Center, Northrop Grumman supports elements of major launch vehicles through the Booster Fabrication Facility. Here, company and NASA engineers upgrade, manufacture and assemble forward and aft assemblies of the twin solid rocket boostersthat will power the Space Launch System rocket on Artemis missions. It'salso a critical inspection site for components that assistin flight, ensuring they'reclimate-controlled and ready for launch. These solid rocket boosters will burn six tons of propellant every second, producing 3.6 million pounds of thrust to launch astronauts into space.

• More Power, Less Size: Mighty Microelectronics. Located in the Orlando region, Northrop Grumman's Apopka facility is revolutionizing microelectronics with its state-of-the-art Micro-Line. This advanced facility processes, testsand bumps microchips for innovative chip stacking, which layers chips vertically rather than the traditional side-by-side connection. This technique enhances performance and speed, creating a powerful, all-in-one system "package." Since opening in 2020, the Micro-Line has doubled its output, providing solutions at a pace that far surpasses traditional methods. Today, Northrop Grumman stands among a few select companies capable of packaging chips domestically.

• From the Screen to the Flight Line: DigitalDesign. The B-21 Raiderset an industry standard in digital modeling, which seamlessly integrated the virtual and physical world.It automatically connects requirements, designs and data between Northrop Grumman and its supplier network, ensuring a high-confidence design before metal is bent.The B-21programbegan in Melbourne, Florida, where engineersdigitallydesigned the aircraft. The B-21's digital environment allowed the company to perform engine runs within just five days of fuel testing, compared to an industry standard of weeks. To develop advanced aircraftlike the B-21, Northrop Grumman's presence in Melbourne jumped from six buildings to 17 between 2016-2022- an exponential leap forward that allows Northrop Grumman to continue leading the industry in digital design, which saves time and money during the testing and build phases.

• A Lasting Impact. Northrop Grumman contributes to Florida's economy through its nearly 8,000employees in the state, generating $4.4 billion in annual economic output, according to a recent study. In 2024, the company and employees contributed $1.6 million in charitable funding to support local STEM education, workforce development and the military and veteran community. Employees also contributed more than 17,000 volunteer hours in support of local schools and nonprofits. The combined company and employee contributions help boost local communities, making the state one of the best places to do business.

From safeguarding national security to pioneering advancements in aerospace and microelectronics, Northrop Grumman's Florida workforce is igniting innovation that not only fortifies our defense capabilities but also expands the frontiers of exploration and technology.

With nearly 100,000employees 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 approach isn't just about flawlessproduction - it was developed to accelerate and enhance the entire process from design and development to production and testing. The company has invested in U.S. infrastructure, R&D, its workforce, and supply chain to deliver the national security needs of today and for tomorrow.