Northrop Grumman Awarded US Army Contract for Improved Threat Detection System

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. - May 4, 2026 - Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) was awarded a U.S. Army contract for second phase development of its Improved Threat Detection System (ITDS). The award follows the Army's early decision to choose the company's discriminating technology demonstrated in successful first phase ITDS flight tests against competing systems.

Northrop Grumman's ITDS maximizes aircraft survivability with superior capability and operational speed that will provide a decisive future advantage for Army air crews to defeat ever-evolving threats.
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• ATHENA is a next-generation, multi-spectral threat warning sensor. It delivers360-degree situational awareness to Army aviators and detects threats pilots can't see - even looking through the aircraft floor.

• ATHENA's Advanced Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) detection capability utilizes high-resolution and wide-band sensors to quickly identify incoming UAS threats. It also detects loitering munitions, Electro-Optical/Infrared targeting systems, guided Man Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS), anti-tank guided missiles, small arms, medium- and large-caliber machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and anti-tank guided munitions.

• ITDS is designed with open systems architecture, allowing for faster addition of new capabilities to outpace emerging threats and maintain air superiority in rapidly changing threat environments.

• ITDS is a Future Airborne Capability Environment and Modular Open Systems Approach compliant system, able to operate on current Army aircraft and Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft. The system is intended for the enduring and future Army rotary aircraft fleet, with priority given to the MV-75 Cheynne II and AH-64 Apache.

Northrop Grumman's Improved Threat Detection System (ITDS), featuring the ATHENA sensor, delivers enhanced threat warning capabilities to elevate aircraft survivability and protect warfighters. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)

Details:

Northrop Grumman's ATHENA sensor meets today's mission needs while providing the U.S. Army with connected, multi-service capabilities to identify future threats. As a form/fit replacement for legacy aircraft sensors, it seamlessly integrates into an aircraft with flare or laser-based countermeasure systems, such as the Common Infrared Countermeasure system.

Learn more about Northrop Grumman's Electro-Optical and Infrared sensor capabilities and its next-generation solutions for the Army.

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.

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 approach isn't just about flawless production - 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.

_{This effort is sponsored by the U.S. Government under Other Transaction number W15QKN-17-9-5555 between the Consortium Management Group, Inc., and the Government. The U.S. Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for Governmental purposes notwithstanding any copyright notation thereon.}

_{The mission of Consortium Management Group, Inc. on behalf of Consortium for Command, Control, and Communications in Cyberspace (C5) is to speed development of technologies to improve U.S. Government capabilities required to sustain U.S. military supremacy in weapon systems information technologies.}

_{The views and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or endorsements, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Government.}