Article Posted on : - Jan 12, 2010

An artist's rendition of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System. Northrop Grumman Photo.

ALASKA (BNS): US Army has awarded a military contract to Northrop Grumman Corporation for the development of Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS).

According to a news release by the Northrop Grumman Corporation, the contract is finalised at $577 million for system design and development.

IBCS will integrate current and future air and missile defence systems to allow warfighters to use any sensor and any weapon to achieve mission objectives in a true open-architecture environment.

"IBCS takes care of the science of warfare, so the warfighter can focus on the art of warfare. The system provides unparalleled situational understanding and the knowledge needed to make risk-based decisions in a highly time-sensitive environment," said Linda A. Mills, Northrop Grumman corporate vice president and president of its Information Systems sector, as reported in the release.

IBCS is an integrated air- and missile-defence command and control capability. Enabled by a battlefield fire control network, the system will give warfighters the technology, tools and information they need to make better decisions on the battlefield.

IBCS is expected to be completed by 2014.