The Army’s program to field a next-generation missile defense command platform, being built by Northrop Grumman [NOC], has been approved to move into production, a defense official told

Defense Daily

Ellen Lord, the Pentagon’s top acquisition official, signed the Acquisition Decision Memorandum for the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS) program on Wednesday.

A Northrop Grumman produced Engagement Operations Center (EOC) and Interactive Collaborative Environment (ICE) which are demonstrated in realistic environments at Fort Bliss in preparation for the IBCS Limited User Test. Photo: U.S. Army

News of the Milestone C decision for IBCS to move into low-rate production was first reported by Defense News.

IBCS is the Army’s program to field a new missile defense control network that integrates the service’s full range of “sensor to shooter” capabilities, which officials have said will enable a new “joint kill web” concept.

The Army has invested $2.7 billion in IBCS to date, with the program completing a successful limited user test this past summer where the system was used to take down a tactical ballistic missile and cruise missile surrogate targets (Defense Daily, Aug. 20).