Northrop Grumman has opened a new facility in Madison, Alabama, to increase the production of crucial Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) components.
The facility, named the Enhanced Production and Integration Center (EPIC), will integrate technological and digital advancements in the process to support the US Army’s accelerated modernization plan for air and missile defense.
With 175,500 square feet (16,304 square meters) of production space, EPIC can manufacture up to 96 Engagement Operation Centers (EOCs), 96 Integrated Collaborative Environments (ICEs), and 192 Integrated Fire Control Network (IFCN) relays annually.
The $20-million investment covers both domestic and foreign military sales production.
“Our investment in American manufacturing with this new facility enables us to continue supporting critical modernization efforts such as producing capabilities like IBCS at scale and speed,” said Kenn Todorov, VP of command and control & weapons integration at Northrop Grumman.
“With this investment, we’re doubling our integration space and significantly enhancing our storage and classified testing capabilities, ensuring America leads the world in military strength.”
Integrated Battle Command System
The IBCS integrates and coordinates all air and missile defense assets into a unified network.
It is made up of different components, but the EOCs and ICEs — where operators interact with the system and make battle management decisions — and IFCN relays that Northrop focused on are the primary hardware units forming the system’s backbone.
Northrop’s expanded production of these core components means the army can field more IBCS-equipped units, improving its ability to defend against complex and evolving aerial and missile threats.
