Northrop Grumman seeks Australian industry capability for Space Systems Project

Stephen Kuper

18 September 2020

Northrop Grumman is actively seeking to identify and collaborate with industry to develop sovereign Australian space capabilities, as the local space industry base continues to grow from strength-to-strength.

This industry-wide request focuses on a broad range of civil and military space-based programs and capabilities, including launch, space segment, ground segment, control segment and facilities.

Northrop Grumman aims to enable Australian industry to take advantage of disruption in the space sector — from emerging private sector ‘new space’ start-ups, to leveraging mature capabilities in satellite communications.

Northrop Grumman is seeking expressions of interest from suppliers with capabilities from design and advanced manufacturing to next-generation communications technology, including optical and quantum communications. Opportunities extend beyond the space vehicle and control segment technology and include construction and maintenance of ground stations in regional and remote Australia.

Potential opportunities under the Space Systems Project include:

Software development;
Systems integration;
Facilities construction;
System operators; and
Sustainment.

There are also opportunities to participate in the supply chain through the manufacture and supply of sub-systems and components.

The Space Systems Project presents an opportunity for Australian and New Zealand industry to participate in a strategically important program to build and maintain an enduring Australian space capability with an opportunity to enter export markets.

Australia is increasingly reliant on satellite-based capabilities and services, particularly where digital data and information drives decision-making. Through the 2020 Force Structure Plan, the Commonwealth has outlined its approach for investing and developing space capabilities to improve Defence’s resilience and enhance a large number of space-dependent capabilities across the Joint Force. These include:

The acquisition and sustainment of sovereign-controlled satellites, and ground control stations will be under sovereign Australian control, increasing our self-reliance and resilience;
Enhancing space domain awareness to enable better tracking and identification of space objects and threats, such as space debris, as well as predicting and avoiding potential collisions;
Developing capabilities to counter emerging threats to Australia’s free use of the space domain including capabilities that assure our continued access to space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance;
A rolling upgrade program to assure access to position, navigation and timing information in a contested environment; and
Acquisition of a sovereign space-based imagery capability to enhance coverage of the Indo-Pacific region.

As a leading provider and integrator of space, aeronautics, defence and cyber space systems and solutions, Northrop Grumman works with Australia's Defence Force to ensure border and Pacific-region and joint operations missions are successful.

Northrop Grumman is deeply committed to building Australian defence industry capability through partnerships and collaboration, and will continue to assist small business and medium-size enterprises to deliver innovative capabilities and technologies to a global market.

You can submit an expression of interest (EOI) through the ICN Gateway. EOIs should describe your company’s engineering and manufacturing capabilities, certifications, business size, and other relevant information.

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