Army, Northrop partner to upgrade joint tactical ground station

Northrop Grumman has won a $31.2 million contract from the Army to modernize the Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS) to improve the missile defense capabilities, the  company said Oct. 17.

Under the contract, Northrop Grumman will conduct the initial development of the improvemetns and offer several optional production and sustainment efforts, company officials said.

JTAGS is an information processing system that receives and processes infrared data down-linked from Defense Support Program Space Based Infrared and other satellite sensors for forces in theater. The system distributes warning, alerting and cueing information on tactical ballistic missiles and other events using multiple communications networks.

The company said it will perform the work at its facilities in Colorado Springs, Colo., and Azusa, Calif.