Northrop Grumman MILITARY

Target: Northrop Grumman Corporation Research date: 25 October 2026 Domain: Military - Defence, military systems and military supply chains

Direct Defence Contracting & Procurement

Direct defence contracting and Israeli military end-users

Northrop Grumman’s historical Israeli military supply relationships include avionics supplied for the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s M-346 advanced military trainer aircraft fleet, components manufactured for the F-35 programme used by the Israeli Air Force, and Apache-related military systems documented in historical defence procurement investigations.^{1, 2, 3, 4}

[pre-2020] On 7 November 2012, Northrop Grumman announced that its Italian subsidiary had been selected by Alenia Aermacchi, the M-346 programme’s prime contractor, to supply LISA-200 Attitude Heading Reference Systems for aircraft ordered by the Israeli Ministry of Defense. This establishes a named Israeli defence programme, an identified intermediary, and a specific military subsystem. Current contract status and subsequent deliveries have not been independently established.³

On 4 June 2024, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced an approximately $3 billion government-to-government agreement for 25 additional F-35 aircraft, increasing its planned fleet to 75. The announcement identified Lockheed Martin as the aircraft manufacturer and scheduled deliveries beginning in 2028. Northrop Grumman manufactures principal subsystems for the F-35 programme, although the announcement did not identify a separate Northrop Grumman contract with the Israeli government.^{5, 6}

Defence cooperation and corporate announcements

[pre-2020] Northrop Grumman’s 10 June 2013 announcement confirmed that Elbit Systems-Cyclone had delivered its first composite component for the F-35 centre fuselage manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The companies signed their seven-year supply agreement in December 2011. The announcement described 16 unique composite components covered by the arrangement.²

Elbit Systems subsequently described Cyclone’s receipt of a 2024 Northrop Grumman Strategic Supplier award and Platinum Source recognition. The disclosure supports continuation of the companies’ F-35 industrial relationship after the original agreement period.⁷

Defence trade directories and registries

No public evidence identified of a specific Israeli SIBAT directory entry, tender number or Israeli procurement registry award directly naming Northrop Grumman as the successful contractor.

Direct state security contracts outside the military

No public evidence identified of a specific Northrop Grumman procurement contract with the Israel Prison Service, Israel Border Police or an Israeli police unit.

On 15 December 2023, the US Department of Defense announced that Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Plymouth, Minnesota, had been awarded an $8,856,018 firm-fixed-price, definite-delivery contract (N0016424CJ001) to supply 30mm MK44 Stretch cannons, associated spare parts, tools and gauges to the Israeli Ministry of Defense under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. The announcement specified that 100% of the $8,856,018 award would be obligated from FMS Israel customer funds. Manufacturing work was assigned to Mesa, Arizona, with completion scheduled for 31 March 2025. The contract was awarded without competition under 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(4), concerning international agreements, with Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane, Indiana, identified as the contracting activity. This establishes a directly documented Northrop Grumman weapons procurement contract with the Israeli Ministry of Defense, including its contract identifier, financial value, military end-user and specified equipment. The announcement establishes the award and scheduled completion date; it does not independently establish final delivery or acceptance of the cannons.⁸

On 28 April 2026, the US Department of Defense announced a $488,000,000 ceiling, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (FA8232-26-D-B003) awarded to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Linthicum Heights, Maryland, for engineering and technical support of AN/APG-66 and AN/APG-68 F-16 radar systems. The announcement expressly included Israel among 21 Foreign Military Sales beneficiary countries, alongside US Air Force and Navy support requirements. Performance was scheduled at Linthicum Heights through 31 March 2036. The award was sole-source, administered by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and carried an initial obligation of $2,644,922 in fiscal 2026 funds. Although announced on 28 April, the award was dated 27 April 2026. This establishes a contemporary Northrop Grumman military radar-support contract explicitly encompassing Israel and extending potentially into 2036. The $488 million represents the overall contract ceiling across the specified programmes and countries; the announcement does not disclose Israel’s individual financial allocation, work orders or completed services.⁹

Dual-Use Products & Tactical Variants

Military-specific products

Northrop Grumman manufactures the AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array radar for the F-35. The company describes air-to-air and air-to-ground functions involving detection, tracking and weapons engagement. This is purpose-built combat-aircraft equipment rather than an ordinary civilian product.¹⁰

Northrop Grumman also manufactures the AN/APG-78 Longbow fire-control radar for Apache attack helicopters. The system is designed for military targeting and weapons employment, and the company’s technical description identifies its relationship to the Apache platform.¹¹

[pre-2020] Northrop Grumman Italia’s LISA-200 Attitude Heading Reference System was selected for the Israeli M-346 military trainer in 2012. Its documented function includes supplying navigation and attitude information compatible with the aircraft’s digital flight-control architecture.³

Civilian-to-military distinction

The F-35 AN/APG-81 and Apache Longbow fire-control systems are military-specific technologies, while inertial navigation and attitude-reference technologies also have broader aerospace applications. The 2012 M-346 contract establishes an actual Israeli military aircraft application for the LISA-200 rather than relying on its general product capabilities.^{10, 3, 11}

Export licensing and end-user certification

The June 2024 Israeli F-35 acquisition announcement identifies a formal Letter of Offer and Acceptance under the US Foreign Military Sales framework. This establishes a government-to-government procurement mechanism, but it does not identify a separate export licence issued to Northrop Grumman for any particular component.⁵

No public evidence identified of an individual Northrop Grumman export-licence application, Israeli end-user certificate, licence refusal or publicly disclosed licence number corresponding to the company’s Israeli defence relationships.

Commercial variants

No public evidence identified of a standard civilian product sold into Israel and subsequently converted into a Northrop Grumman-branded tactical variant by an Israeli distributor.

Heavy Machinery, Construction & Infrastructure

Equipment in occupied territories

No public evidence identified of Northrop Grumman-branded construction machinery, earthmoving equipment or civilian infrastructure vehicles being used to build or demolish structures in West Bank settlements, East Jerusalem or the occupied Golan Heights.

Direct and indirect equipment supply

No public evidence identified of an authorised Northrop Grumman heavy-machinery distributor, secondary-market equipment transfer or construction-equipment resale linked to Israeli settlement infrastructure.

Construction and engineering contracts

No public evidence identified of a Northrop Grumman construction, engineering or facilities-development contract for Israeli settlements, the separation barrier, checkpoints or detention facilities in occupied territory.

Settlement nexus

The documented F-35, M-346, Apache and naval relationships concern military platforms and defence procurement. The available platform and procurement records do not establish Northrop Grumman’s direct construction or maintenance of settlement infrastructure.^{1, 5, 3, 4, 12}

No public evidence identified of a Northrop Grumman-owned manufacturing facility or confirmed military construction contract situated inside internationally recognised occupied territory.

Supply Chain Integration with Defence Primes

Elbit Systems-Cyclone

[pre-2020] Northrop Grumman’s June 2013 corporate announcement provides direct documentary evidence of a supplier relationship with Elbit Systems-Cyclone. Cyclone manufactured advanced composite parts for the F-35 centre fuselage assembled by Northrop Grumman. The seven-year agreement, signed in December 2011, covered 16 distinct composite components.²

The direction of supply is significant: the documented transaction involved an Israeli subsidiary supplying composite components to Northrop Grumman for the multinational F-35 programme. The announcement does not establish that Northrop Grumman supplied those components to Elbit Systems.²

Elbit Systems’ account of its F-35 production activities reports that Cyclone received a Northrop Grumman Strategic Supplier award in 2024. This independently documents a continuing industrial relationship during 2024, after the ICJ advisory opinion of 19 July 2024.⁷

On 14 May 2026, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced a contract exceeding $34 million with Cyclone for development and integration of external fuel tanks for Israel’s F-35I Adir fleet. The announcement identifies Cyclone as a wholly owned Elbit subsidiary but does not identify Northrop Grumman as a contracting party. Consequently, this procurement documents activity by an established Northrop Grumman supplier, without establishing Northrop Grumman participation in that specific contract.¹³

Lockheed Martin

Northrop Grumman is a principal industrial participant in the Lockheed Martin-led F-35 programme. Its contributions include the centre fuselage, radar and mission avionics. The Israeli Ministry of Defense’s June 2024 announcement establishes continuing Israeli procurement of the platform.^{5, 6}

Northrop Grumman describes its responsibility for the F-35’s advanced sensor and avionics architecture, including the AN/APG-81 radar. These are identifiable military aircraft subsystems with operational roles in combat-aircraft missions.^{6, 10}

Alenia Aermacchi

[pre-2020] Northrop Grumman Italia was selected as an avionics supplier to Alenia Aermacchi for the Israeli M-346 programme in November 2012. The identified component was the LISA-200 attitude and heading reference system.³

Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael

The Israeli Ministry of Defense’s December 2024 announcement identifies Israel Aerospace Industries as the supplier under an agreement to expand Arrow 3 interceptor production. The announcement does not identify Northrop Grumman as a supplier or co-producer.¹⁴

Official Israeli documentation of Arrow 3’s first operational interception identifies Israel Aerospace Industries as the principal contractor, Elbit Systems as the command-and-control developer, and Tomer and Rafael as principal interceptor subcontractors. Northrop Grumman is not named among those participants in that announcement.¹⁵

No public evidence identified of a specific Northrop Grumman component-supply agreement with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems for Arrow 3, Iron Dome or David’s Sling.

Joint development and co-production

The Northrop Grumman-Elbit Cyclone supply relationship establishes industrial cooperation within F-35 manufacturing. The available announcement specifies composite-component supply and does not establish a separately identified joint venture or jointly owned manufacturing company.²

No public evidence identified of a verified Northrop Grumman-Israel Aerospace Industries or Northrop Grumman-Rafael joint-development agreement relating to an Israeli strategic missile programme.

Logistical Sustainment & Base Services

Military installation services

Northrop Grumman’s F-35 programme activities include mission systems, training-related capabilities and sustainment-related technical work. The company’s programme description does not establish a specific contract for services at an Israeli military installation.⁶

No public evidence identified of a named Northrop Grumman contract providing catering, fuel, waste management, cleaning, property maintenance or telecommunications services to an Israeli military base.

Maintenance and technical support

The June 2024 Israeli F-35 acquisition agreement includes aircraft support and maintenance services under a government-to-government arrangement. Northrop Grumman is an industrial participant in the F-35 programme, but the public announcement does not allocate a defined Israeli maintenance-services package to Northrop Grumman.^{5, 6}

Geographic specificity

No public evidence identified of a Northrop Grumman installation-services contract at a named military base in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem or Golan Heights.

No public evidence identified of a Northrop Grumman facilities-services contract at an Israeli detention installation.

Shipping, freight and port services

No public evidence identified of a Northrop Grumman shipping, freight-forwarding, military cargo-handling or port-services contract specifically supporting Israeli military logistics.

Munitions, Weapons Systems & Strategic Platforms

F-35 combat aircraft

Northrop Grumman manufactures the F-35 centre fuselage and supplies major avionics and sensor systems for the aircraft. The company’s public description identifies radar, electro-optical capabilities, communications, navigation, identification and mission-system contributions.⁶

The Israeli Ministry of Defense confirmed the acquisition of 25 additional F-35 aircraft in June 2024, with delivery scheduled to begin in 2028. This establishes continued Israeli military procurement of an aircraft programme incorporating Northrop Grumman technology.^{5, 6}

The company’s AN/APG-81 radar provides detection, tracking and engagement functions supporting air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The radar is a purpose-built military subsystem with weapons-employment functions and falls within the Military domain.¹⁰

March 2026 reporting identified delays involving Northrop Grumman’s newer AN/APG-85 radar for future F-35 configurations. The reporting concerns the broader US F-35 programme and does not establish installation of AN/APG-85 on Israeli aircraft.¹⁶

M-346 military trainer aircraft

[pre-2020] Northrop Grumman Italia’s November 2012 LISA-200 contract identifies an avionics subsystem supplied for the Israeli Air Force’s M-346 advanced trainer aircraft. The M-346 is used for military pilot training, and the disclosed arrangement identifies the Israeli Ministry of Defense as the programme end-user.³

The public evidence examined does not establish whether this particular supply contract remained active after the original deliveries.

Apache attack helicopters

Northrop Grumman manufactures the AN/APG-78 Longbow fire-control radar used on AH-64 Apache attack helicopters. The system supports target acquisition and weapons engagement.¹¹

[pre-2020] Human Rights Watch documented US proposals and historical equipment arrangements involving Israeli Apache helicopters, associated weapons and Longbow modernisation in a May 2000 investigation. The report provides contemporaneous evidence of Israeli interest in and acquisition arrangements for advanced Apache military capabilities.⁴

AFSC’s Northrop Grumman company investigation links the company to Apache Longbow radar technology and historical Israeli helicopter modernisation. The exact configuration of each aircraft and the present operational status of individual Northrop Grumman systems are not established by that company-level investigation.¹

F-16 combat aircraft

AFSC identifies Northrop Grumman’s AN/ALQ-131 electronic-warfare system and AN/APG-68(V)9 fire-control radar in its discussion of Israeli F-16 capabilities. These are military-specific electronic warfare and targeting subsystems.¹

The reviewed evidence does not establish that every Israeli F-16 carried those systems, or connect a uniquely identified Northrop Grumman component to a specific individual strike.

Sa’ar 5 naval vessels

[pre-2020] The Transportation Research Board’s archive records the launch of the Israeli Navy’s first Sa’ar 5 corvette, Eilat, from Litton’s Ingalls Shipbuilding Division in Mississippi in February 1993. The vessel was one of three corvettes constructed for Israel.¹²

The documented construction occurred under Litton ownership before Northrop Grumman’s subsequent acquisition of that industrial business. It is therefore a predecessor-company relationship, and its historical timing must be retained when attributing the programme to the later corporate group.^{12, 17}

AFSC also identifies the Sa’ar 5 programme in its Northrop Grumman military-supply investigation.¹

Missiles, munitions and ordnance

AFSC identifies historical Northrop Grumman participation in Israeli military aircraft, naval platforms and target systems, but its company profile does not establish a complete contemporary list of Northrop Grumman-produced missiles delivered directly to Israel.¹

On 1 August 2024, Israel’s Ministry of Defense announced an approximately $340 million ammunition agreement with Elbit Systems. The announcement identifies Elbit as the manufacturer and does not establish a Northrop Grumman role in the ammunition contract.¹⁸

Missile defence systems

Israel’s Ministry of Defense identifies Israel Aerospace Industries as the supplier for the December 2024 Arrow 3 interceptor expansion contract. Its operational account identifies additional Israeli contractors, including Rafael, Tomer and Elbit Systems, without identifying Northrop Grumman as an Arrow 3 contractor.^{14, 15}

No public evidence identified of a Northrop Grumman contract to manufacture Iron Dome, Arrow 3 or David’s Sling interceptors for the Israeli military.

Autonomous targeting and kinetic AI

Northrop Grumman’s AN/APG-81 and AN/APG-78 radar systems perform military targeting and fire-control functions. Their documented functions are directly connected to weapons employment and are therefore within the military systems examined in this audit.^{10, 11}

No public evidence identified of Northrop Grumman supplying an autonomous target-generation AI system analogous to Lavender or The Gospel to the Israeli military.

Strategic weapons components

Northrop Grumman’s AN/APG-81 is a critical military radar subsystem for the F-35. Its designed functions include detection, tracking and support for weapons engagement.¹⁰

No public evidence identified of Northrop Grumman supplying nuclear warheads, ballistic-missile warhead components or strategic missile propulsion systems directly to Israel.

On 13 August 2024, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency issued notification Transmittal 24-10 concerning a proposed $774.1 million Foreign Military Sale of 120mm tank ammunition and associated equipment to Israel. The notification identified 32,739 cartridges comprising M1147 High Explosive Multi-Purpose with Tracer and/or M830A1 High Explosive Multi-Purpose Anti-Tank with Tracer ammunition, together with additional munitions, containers, transportation, technical documentation and logistical support. It explicitly named Northrop Grumman Defense Systems of Falls Church, Virginia, and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems of St. Petersburg, Florida, as the principal contractors. Deliveries were estimated to commence in 2027. The notification establishes Northrop Grumman’s named contractor role in a proposed Israeli tank-ammunition procurement programme, but does not demonstrate that the proposed transaction was subsequently finalised, identify which individual ammunition types Northrop Grumman would manufacture, or establish completed deliveries. The $774.1 million was the estimated value of the entire proposed sale, rather than a disclosed Northrop Grumman contract value.^{19, 20}

Export Licensing, Regulatory & Legal History

Export-control and procurement mechanisms

The Israeli Ministry of Defense’s June 2024 F-35 purchase announcement identifies a Letter of Offer and Acceptance with the United States government and funding through US Foreign Military Financing. The acquisition programme includes Lockheed Martin aircraft incorporating Northrop Grumman subsystems.^{5, 6}

[pre-2020] The 2013 Northrop Grumman-Elbit Cyclone announcement expressly situates the Israeli manufacturing contribution within the multinational F-35 programme, with Israel participating as a future aircraft customer through the Foreign Military Sales framework.²

Licence grants, denials and suspensions

No public evidence identified of an individually documented US, UK, Italian or other export-licence decision naming Northrop Grumman as exporter and a specified Israeli military unit as end-user.

No public evidence identified of a licence suspension or revocation specifically naming Northrop Grumman’s supply of F-35 components to Israel.

Arms embargo and sanctions enforcement

No public evidence identified of an enforcement judgment against Northrop Grumman specifically concerning violations of an arms embargo on Israel.

Judicial proceedings

No public evidence identified of a court judgment holding Northrop Grumman liable for a specific military supply transaction with Israel.

No public evidence identified of a judicial review decision specifically cancelling a Northrop Grumman export licence for Israeli military equipment.

Continuing activity after July and November 2024

Elbit Systems identifies Cyclone as a 2024 Northrop Grumman Strategic Supplier award recipient. This documents recognition of the industrial relationship during 2024, although the disclosure does not establish the precise dates of individual component shipments.⁷

The 2026 Israeli Cyclone contract confirms continued defence procurement from that Israeli company. The government announcement does not establish that Northrop Grumman directly supplied, approved or manufactured the external fuel tanks covered by the contract.¹³

The continuing F-35 acquisition programme provides evidence of Israeli military procurement involving a platform for which Northrop Grumman manufactures key components. The June 2024 acquisition announcement, however, does not identify individual component deliveries after November 2024.^{5, 6}

Civil Society Scrutiny & Documented Investigations

American Friends Service Committee

AFSC Investigate maintains a Northrop Grumman company profile identifying the company as a military supplier connected to Israeli F-35, F-16, Apache, naval and military training platforms. The report names specific systems and historical procurement relationships.¹

The AFSC profile places Northrop Grumman on its BDS Divestment Shortlist and documents historical student-government divestment initiatives citing the company’s military supply relationships with Israel.¹

Campaign Against Arms Trade

Campaign Against Arms Trade maintains a Northrop Grumman company profile addressing its defence production and connections to Israeli military operations. The profile, updated in April 2026, also records a November 2025 protest organised at the company’s London site.²¹

CAAT’s broader research on Israeli arms suppliers identifies Northrop Grumman as one of Lockheed Martin’s two principal F-35 industrial partners and discusses the aircraft’s use by Israeli forces.²²

Historical divestment campaigns

AFSC records multiple university and student-government campaigns targeting Northrop Grumman, including initiatives at the University of California Irvine, University of Illinois, UCLA, Wesleyan University, York University and UC San Diego. The documented campaigns cite the company’s defence equipment and weapons-system relationships with Israel.¹

The AFSC record includes both adopted resolutions and disputed or subsequently vetoed decisions. These actions should be understood as institutional or student-government campaign records rather than evidence that every institution executed a corresponding portfolio divestment.¹

Corporate governance and controlling principals

Northrop Grumman identifies Kathy Warden as its Chair, CEO and President, and lists the company’s leadership and directors through its public governance pages.^{23, 24}

On 13 February 2026, Northrop Grumman announced the election of Admiral Christopher Grady, a former Vice Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, to its board of directors. The announcement documents his prior senior US military commands and retirement in 2025.²⁵

Warden’s corporate biography identifies earlier leadership roles at General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman, alongside other commercial and industry affiliations. The biography does not identify a personal directorship in an Israeli defence prime or settlement enterprise.²⁴

No public evidence identified of a verified Israeli military-channel donation, settlement-organisation directorship or personally controlled Israeli defence investment by the examined Northrop Grumman principals.

No public evidence identified of a Northrop Grumman controlling shareholder holding at least 10% of outstanding common equity through an identified personal or family-office vehicle.

Corporate policy and responses

Northrop Grumman’s 2025 annual report describes its defence-related operations and the importance of government contracts to its business. The filing does not provide a contract-by-contract register of Israeli military end-users.¹⁷

No public evidence identified of a Northrop Grumman public undertaking to terminate its F-35 production participation because of Israeli military use.

No public evidence identified of a company-specific commitment to conduct independent end-use monitoring of every F-35, M-346 or Apache component supplied through the documented procurement programmes.

Shareholder resolutions and employee pressure

No public evidence identified of a verified Northrop Grumman shareholder resolution that resulted in termination of the company’s Israeli defence-related supply relationships.

No public evidence identified of a confirmed company-wide policy change concerning employee charitable matching to organisations supporting the Israeli military.

Settlement-related investigations

The company-specific AFSC and CAAT materials reviewed document military supply chains, defence platforms and divestment campaigns. They do not establish a particular Northrop Grumman construction contract for an Israeli settlement or a named Northrop Grumman industrial facility in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem or Golan Heights.^{1, 21}

No public evidence identified of a confirmed Northrop Grumman listing in the OHCHR settlement-business database.

No independently verified company-specific finding from UN report A/HRC/59/23 was established during this research.