Northrop Grumman Corporation has completed a Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared Polar (NGP) program, which is being developed for the US Space Force Space Systems Command. The company is now on track to begin production of the early-warning missile system, which is designed to detect and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles over the Northern Hemisphere. The NGP system consists of two satellites that operate in highly elliptical orbits and can identify the infrared heat signatures of incoming threats, transmitting this data to the ground. The system also has resiliency features that reduce vulnerabilities to counter-space and cyberattacks.
