Defense giant now offers components manufactured in secure, government-certified facilities to other aerospace and defense firms.
Northrop Grumman has begun selling dozens of microelectronics components, produced in government-certified facilities on US soil, to other „aerospace and defense companies,” according to a company release. Previously, these components were exclusively available to military programs involving Northrop itself.
Strengthening the US Defense Supply Chain
This move is part of a years-long Pentagon-led initiative to reduce the US defense industry’s reliance on Asian suppliers, a concern heightened by growing threats from China. The Department of Defense supports „trusted foundries” that are officially certified as secure against supply chain vulnerabilities.
CHIPS Act Support for Defense Microelectronics
Defense-specific microelectronics also receive funding under the CHIPS Act, which is primarily administered by the Commerce Department to revitalize US high-tech manufacturing following decades of offshoring.
Northrop Grumman’s Manufacturing Hubs
Northrop Grumman operates three specialized manufacturing facilities: the Advanced Technology Lab in Linthicum, Maryland; Micro-Line in Apopka, Florida; and Space Park Foundry in Redondo Beach, California. The California and Maryland sites are US government-accredited semiconductor foundries, while the Florida facility specializes in „advanced packaging,” a technically complex process of integrating various tiny chips into a single, functional „electronics package.”
Custom Design and Manufacturing Capabilities
Northrop emphasizes that its facilities can not only produce standard components but also collaborate with customers to design, test, and build custom circuitry.
Boosting Resilience of US Semiconductor Industry
„By opening our defense-grade manufacturing facilities to partners, Northrop Grumman is helping to expand and strengthen the resilience of America’s semiconductor industry and supply chain,” stated Vern Boyle, VP of the Northrop Grumman Microelectronics Center, who oversees all three sites. „We are providing partners with unprecedented access to design and develop domestic chips as well as the ability to directly purchase from us.”
