Northrop Grumman to develop ballistic missile defense simulation models

March 6 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman has been awarded a contract from the Missile Defense Agency to develop and field simulation models of a Ballistic Missile Defense System, or BMDS, and its capabilities.

The deal, announced Monday by the Department of Defense, is valued at $475 million under the terms of a non-competitive, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract expected to remain active until March 2023.

The agreement between MDA and Northrop Grumman enables the company to develop, test and field complex modeling and simulation techniques and tools used to model Ballistic Missile Defense Systems capabilities, the Defense Department said in a press release.

The Pentagon says that task order one for program management services will be valued at more than $9.8 million, and task order two, which will provide Ballistic Missile Defense System development, will be valued at more than $143 million.

Work will occur in Alabama, Colorado and California, with the ordering period under the contract expected to close in March 2023.

The MDA has obligated $100,000 will be obligated to Northrop Grumman for task order one, and $3.3 million for task order two from fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation funds.