Northrop Grumman has successfully conducted the integrated baseline review (IBR) of the US Air Force’s (USAF) enhanced polar system (EPS) control and planning segment (CAPS) programme.

Undertaken during the production, deployment and initial sustainment phase, the IBR assessed resources allocated to EPS CAPS and demonstrated how anticipated risks would be tracked and managed.

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In particular, the review focused on EPS CAPS technical baseline, including an assessment of potential risks associated with the programme’s technical performance, cost, schedule and resources.

Reviewers unanimously agreed that the programme can be performed with resolution of actions and adherence to risk-management measures.

"The Northrop Grumman team, in partnership with the MILSATCOM customer, have worked very hard the past several months to ensure this second IBR shows the programme is ready for this next phase."

Northrop Grumman Information Systems sector intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance division vice-president and general manager Linnie Haynesworth said: "The Northrop Grumman team, in partnership with the MILSATCOM customer, have worked very hard the past several months to ensure this second IBR shows the programme is ready for this next phase."

The company has already completed an IBR during the programme’s design and risk-reduction phase, and would now concentrate on software development. This will be followed by segment and system tests with the other EPS segments over the next two years.

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Having received the EPS CAPS development contract from the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center’s Military Satellite Communications Systems (MILSATCOM) Directorate in November 2012, Northrop completed the base contract for segment design and risk-reduction efforts earlier this year.

The current contract phase covers the next 48 months for competition of CAPS development, deployment and initial sustainment.

Primary design, development and testing are being undertaken in Redondo Beach, California, with additional CAPS work performed in Orlando, Florida, and Needham and Marlborough, Massachusetts, US.

The EPS system provides soldiers with secure teletype, voice, email, instant messaging, video and multimedia and data communication capabilities. It also enables jam-resistant, strategic and tactical communications between forces operating in the North Polar Region in support of national objectives.

Specifically, EPS CAPS would provide telemetry and control, mission planning and cryptographic planning for the EPS payload.

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