Northrop Grumman wins $429 million payload contract from U.S. Air Force. Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman

A Northrop Grumman payload will provide highly protected communications for warfighters under a new $429 million contract with the U.S. Air Force. The company was awarded a $429 million contract to provide two Extremely High Frequency eXtended Data Rate (EHF XDR) payloads for the Enhanced Polar System-Recapitalization (EPS-R). The contract was awarded by Space and Missile Systems Center, Military Satellite Communications Directorate, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California.

The EPS-R EHF system provides secure, anti-jam, low probability of detection and intercept communications for warfighters. The EPS-R payloads will maintain continuity of protected military satellite communications in the North Polar Region, and are designed to enable hosting on a separately procured satellite with other payloads.