Northrop Grumman to extend support for Air Force EPS CAPS program
NewsJuly 05, 2018
MCLEAN, Va. U.S. Air Force officials signed the DD-250 last fall formally accepting the the Enhanced Polar System (EPS) Control and Planning Segment (CAPS) program from Northrop Grumman, officials announced. This milestone marks the completion of a five-year effort to design, develop, test, and deliver the EPS CAPS for the Military Satellite Communications Systems Directorate (MILSATCOM) and the beginning of a new effort, valued at $23 million, to extend the company?s support role through December 2018.
Completion of the DD-250 milestone required meeting a set of acceptance criteria. This included complying with the Security Technical Implementation Guide, which is published by the Defense Information Systems Agency to help government and commercial computer networks achieve maximum security.
The U.S. Air Force’s EPS provides secure, jam-resistant satellite communications coverage to forces in the North Polar Region (above 65 degrees north latitude) in support of national objectives. CAPS is a next-generation ground system that receives telemetry and supplies configuration commands, mission planning, and cryptographic planning for the two EPS polar-orbiting payloads.
The follow-on support contract started September 2017 and will span 15 months to include operations and maintenance of EPS CAPS during testing of the overall system.
Northrop Grumman was awarded the original contract in November 2012 to develop, build and deliver EPS CAPS. The MILSATCOM directorate at the Air Force's Space and Missile System Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is acquiring EPS and EPS CAPS.
Primary design, development, and testing was performed in Redondo Beach, California, with additional CAPS work performed in Orlando, Florida, and Needham and Marlborough, Massachusetts.
