The Sounding Rocket Program 4 (SRP-4) Indefinite Delivery Contract (IDC) was awarded by the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation's Launch Vehicle Division. The $877 million multiple-award contract, which runs through November 2025, provides launch services, boost vehicles, spare components, and related engineering support for the Missile Defense Agency's national security space programs and military aircraft testing/training activities. Northrop Grumman, the prime contractor, may collaborate with partners such as Raytheon and specialized suppliers to fulfill the contract's requirements, which do not have any set-aside designations. Subsequent task orders issued under the IDC include the design, development, and production of launch vehicles, ordnance disposal systems, and other specialized mission support valued up to $166 million. This IDC enables the government to rapidly acquire a range of Northrop Grumman's aerospace and defense capabilities through a streamlined contracting vehicle.
The original Special Notice for the SRP-4 solicitation invited industry feedback on the program's requirements and acquisition strategy. The notice indicated that the Air Force sought suborbital and orbital launch services for ballistic targets and small payloads, with an Industry Day held to provide potential offerors insight into the program. Foreign firms were excluded from participating as prime contractors due to restrictions on the export of military critical technologies. The contract supports the Space and Missile Systems Center's diverse space, missile defense, and technology demonstration initiatives on behalf of the Department of Defense.