Northrop Grumman Wins $44 Million Navy Contract for TRIDENT II (D5) Rocket-Motor Facility Design

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. has received a $43.9 million firm-fixed-price Navy contract to support the design of new rocket-motor dry-and-grind production facilities and equipment at the Naval Industrial Reserve Ordnance Plant in Magna, Utah. The work supports the TRIDENT II (D5) Strategic Weapon System and will be performed in Magna. The Navy expects it to be completed by Aug. 31, 2028.

Magna Rocket-Motor Facilities Details

Northrop will support the design of production facilities and equipment for the rocket-motor dry-and-grind process at the Magna plant. The award covers design support; it does not identify construction or commissioning as work under this contract.

A related Magna strategic systems complex presolicitation describes a broader effort to design, construct and commission specialized facilities for production of a strategic systems ingredient at the same installation. It states that Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems has custody and use of the property and facilities where that work would take place.

TRIDENT II (D5) Program Background

The Navy describes TRIDENT II (D5) as a three-stage, solid-fuel submarine-launched ballistic missile deployed aboard Ohio-class submarines and planned for the Columbia-class fleet. The Magna award concerns infrastructure supporting rocket-motor production, rather than a new missile design or a missile purchase.

The Navy is also developing a D5 life-extension successor. According to a Strategic Systems Programs update, D5 Life Extension 2 entered engineering and manufacturing development after reaching Milestone B in 2025, with initial fleet introduction planned for fiscal 2039. The update does not identify the Magna design contract as part of that development effort.

Award and Contractor Background

The Navy awarded the design contract on a sole-source basis. Northrop has other facility work at the Magna plant: a capital maintenance contract valued at up to $22.6 million covers repairs and upgrades to Navy-owned equipment, buildings and utilities through March 2030. A separate capital maintenance contract valued at up to $17.4 million runs through June 2028. Those awards concern upkeep of the existing plant, while the new contract concerns design support for production facilities and equipment. More information about the contractor is available on its HigherGov awardee page.

This award was disclosed by the DoW in its daily press release. Additional contract details will be available on HigherGov in approximately 90 days under N0003027C2002 after the contract is formally disclosed by the government.