Northrop Grumman wins IBCS contract for Poland’s Wisla programme

Northrop Grumman has secured a $713m contract with the US Army to manufacture integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) battle command system (IBCS) for Poland.
The foreign military sales contract is for the first phase of Poland’s Wisla medium-range air and missile defence programme.

Under the contract, Northrop Grumman will produce IBCS engagement operations centres for integration with IBCS battle management software to increase the combat ability of sensors and weapon systems.

The company will also supply the integrated fire control network relays and IBCS network-enabled command and control for four firing units.

Delivery of the IBCS engagement operations centres and network relays will be carried out by Polish Jelcz vehicles.

Northrop Grumman missile defence and protective systems vice-president and general manager Dan Verwiel said: “Poland is taking a leadership role in today’s complex threat environment by selecting IBCS over legacy stove-piped systems that were designed decades ago for a much different threat profile.

“IBCS is the future of multi-domain operations and with it, Poland will have a state-of-the-art system to modernise its integrated air and missile defence capabilities.

“Through the acquisition of IBCS, Poland will be in line with the US Army’s future direction. Poland will have the flexibility to consider any radar and any interceptor, optimise sensor and effector integration and keep pace with an evolving threat.”

In March last year, Poland became the first international partner country to buy the IBCS by signing a letter of offer and acceptance with the US Government.

The IBCS provides wider area surveillance and broader protection areas by integrating sensors and interceptors.

The second phase of Poland’s Wisla programme would involve the purchase of additional Patriot fire units, in addition to gallium nitride-based 360° active electronically scanning array radars and the low-cost interceptor missile SkyCeptor.