NATIONAL HARBOR, Md–Northrop Grumman [NOC] and the Air Force completed an integrated baseline review and an interim design review for the Air Operations Center (AOC) Weapon System modernization program, the company said recently at the 2012 Air Force Association Air and Space Conference here.
The successful completion of these milestones means the AOC is ready to enter the design phase, according to a company statement. Northrop Grumman Operating Unit Director, C2 Mission Systems Winter McCall said recently the preliminary design review (PDR), which will take place at the end of December, is the next milestone to be accomplished. Northrop Grumman also has a critical design review (CDR) scheduled for fourth quarter 2013 and Milestone B predicted for early second quarter 2013.
The integrated baseline review, completed July 12, established a mutual understanding and agreement between the Air Force and Northrop Grumman about the cost, schedule, technical deliverables and associated technical and programmatic risk. The integrated design review, completed Aug. 29, was a forum for the service and Northrop Grumman to review and assess the design completed to date, demonstrated by the design documentation and a prototype system.
McCall valued the AOC modernization program, including all options, at $504 million.
The AOC gives the Air Force an enhanced operational level command and control (C2) capability for use in every operational theater. It provides the joint force air component commander with the core capability to plan, task and execute theater-wide operations in the air, space and cyber domains.
Northrop Grumman said in March that it received an initial award of $120 million for the AOC modernization program to create a secure, streamlined computing environment to increase operational effectiveness and reduce costs.