DULLES, Va. — Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) has been awarded a contract by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to deliver an operational satellite prototype for the Geosynchronous High-Resolution Optical Space-Based Tactical Reconnaissance (GHOST-R) mission, the company announced on September 18, 2026.
Under the agreement, Northrop Grumman will assemble, test, and deliver the GHOST-R prototype to the U.S. Space Force on an accelerated 24-month timeline. The spacecraft will leverage the company’s ESPASat-L modular platform paired with optical sensors provided by California-based TRL-11. Designed to operate under DIU’s “Kill Web” portfolio, the satellite will provide high-resolution imaging and enhanced characterization of resident space objects in geosynchronous orbit to augment existing U.S. Space Command space domain awareness architectures.
| Field | Details |
| Publication Date | September 18, 2026 |
| Contractor | Northrop Grumman (Subcontractor: TRL-11) |
| Customer / Agency | U.S. Space Force / Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) |
| Program | GHOST-R (Geosynchronous High-Resolution Optical Space-Based Tactical Reconnaissance) |
| Platform / Bus | ESPASat-L Spacecraft Bus |
| Delivery Timeline | Accelerated 24 months |
| Primary Integration Facilities | Dulles, Virginia and Gilbert, Arizona |
