导弹防御局（MDA）资助的项目预计将于2028年达到初步设计审查阶段。诺斯罗普·格鲁曼公司已从MDA获得额外的4.753亿美元，用于加速其滑翔阶段拦截弹（GPI）的开发。随着此次合同修订，GPI计划的总价值已升至13亿美元以上。
该合同是根据“原型项目其他交易协议”签署的，旨在通过加快时间表推进计划，目标是在2028年完成初步设计审查。最新的资金将支持进一步的关键飞行测试，旨在降低技术风险并完善拦截器的设计。
该计划还寻求开发额外的发射选项，以促进与未来国家防御结构的整合，并扩展多任务能力，以提高作战灵活性和成本效益。据MDA透露，该项目预计于2028年6月完成。该合同由位于弗吉尼亚州达尔格伦的办公室管理。
诺斯罗普·格鲁曼公司发射与探索副总裁兼总经理Wendy Williams表示：“诺格公司正快速行动，精简并交付针对高超音速威胁的首创对抗手段。这笔奖金强调了对导弹防御技术的迫切需求，而诺格公司在提供这些技术方面具有独特优势。”
滑翔阶段拦截弹（GPI）是美国分层导弹防御战略的一部分，旨在高超音速威胁的滑翔阶段对其进行探测、追踪和打击，同时整合到导弹防御局更广泛的导弹防御系统中。诺格公司表示，其团队将继续通过相关测试验证GPI的设计。
The project funded by MDA is expected to reach a Preliminary Design Review by 2028.
Rendition of Northrop Grumman’s Glide Phase Interceptor. Credit: Northrop Grumman.
Northrop Grumman has received an additional $475.3m from the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to accelerate development of its Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI).
With this modification, the total value of the GPI programme rises to just over $1.3 billion. Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
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Awarded under the Prototype Project Other Transaction Agreement, the contract aims to advance the programme with an expedited timetable, targeting a Preliminary Design Review by 2028.
The latest funding will support further critical flight tests intended to reduce technical risks and refine the interceptor’s design.
The programme also seeks to develop additional launch options to facilitate integration with future national defence structures and extend multi-mission capabilities for operational flexibility and cost-effectiveness.
The project’s completion is estimated for June 2028, according to the MDA, which manages the contract from its offices in Dahlgren, Virginia.
Northrop Grumman launch and exploration vice president and general manager Wendy Williams said: “Northrop Grumman is moving with speed to streamline and deliver a first-of-a-kind countermeasure against hypersonic threats. This award underscores the critical need for missile defence technologies, which Northrop Grumman is uniquely equipped to provide.”
The Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) forms part of the US layered missile defence strategy, designed to detect, track, and engage hypersonic threats during their glide phase while integrating into the Missile Defense Agency’s broader missile defence system.
Northrop Grumman said that its team continues to validate GPI design through testing including simulation of extreme temperature conditions and trials of interstage separation mechanisms.
The company’s engineers are also integrating the GPI with the Aegis Weapon System to ensure compatibility within the MDA’s broader missile defence architecture, geared toward confronting regional hypersonic dangers.
