Northrop Grumman headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia. Photo: Northrop Grumman.

Northrop Grumman has announced that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has cleared its proposed acquisition of Orbital ATK. The FTC’s Bureau of Competition has completed its review of the merger, and the Premerger Notification Office has informed the company that the waiting period under the Hart–Scott–Rodino (HSR) Act has terminated, allowing the companies to complete the merger. Orbital ATK is now Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, a new, fourth business sector.

Northrop Grumman’s board of directors has elected Blake Larson as corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, reporting to Kathy Warden, Northrop Grumman’s president and chief operating officer. Larson previously served as the chief operating officer of Orbital ATK.

As part of that clearance, the FTC issued a decision and order providing for solid rocket motors to be available on a non-discriminatory basis under specified circumstances and under processes defined in the order.