Defense titans team to pursue $850 million DOD contract

Northrop Grumman Corp. and Boeing Co. have joined forces to go after a Defense Department modeling and simulation contract that has an estimated value of $850 million.

Together they will pursue the Missile Defense Agency’s Objective Simulation Framework competitive contract that will integrate the agency’s architectures, according to an announcement released today by Northrop.

The defense contractor giants are the principal developers of the MDA’s current modeling and simulation frameworks.

The Objective Simulation Framework program is expected to be awarded in May 2011 as an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract.

It will enhance and integrate the current frameworks that incorporate models from the Ballistic Missile Defense System program elements into one that accurately represents the performance of fielded BMDS equipment against a variety of threats in realistic environments, the announcement states.

The BMDS is a complex system of sensors, interceptors and a command-and-control, battle management and communications network. The integration of these many elements will enable a robust, layered defense to defend against a hostile missile in all phases of flight, according to the announcement.

As the prime contractor on the Joint National Integration Center Research and Development Contract, Northrop Grumman has led a team to conduct BMDS modeling and simulation, ground and flight tests, war games, exercises, analysis and operational training in Colorado Springs, Colo.; Huntsville, Ala.; and other locations.

Boeing brings decades of experience in developing modular, scalable, maintainable and reconfigurable missile defense modeling and simulation products that focus on satisfying the full range of MDA and warfighter requirements, the Northrop announcement states.

The procurement will be managed by the Missile Defense Agency, Redstone Arsenal, Ala.

Northrop Grumman, of Los Angeles, ranks No. 2 on Washington Technology’s 2010 Top 100 list of the largest federal government contractors. Boeing, of Chicago, ranks No. 3 on the list.