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Northrop Grumman Invests $50 Million in Firefly Aerospace to Advance Medium Launch Vehicle Named Eclipse™

1. Northrop Grumman invests $50 million in Firefly Aerospace for Eclipse development. 2. Eclipse targets 16 metric tons to orbit, strengthening NOC's market position. 3. Partnership focuses on affordable launch solutions for national security and commercial needs. 4. Eclipse leverages proven Antares technologies, enhancing performance and efficiency. 5. First launch planned for Wallops Island in 2026, increasing launch capabilities.

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FAQ

Why Bullish?

The investment solidifies Northrop Grumman's position in the growing space launch market, resembling past beneficial partnerships such as Orbital ATK's success post-investment from NOC.

How important is it?

The partnership with Firefly enhances NOC’s offerings, vital for future contracts in a lucrative market.

Why Long Term?

As Eclipse will enhance NOC's launch capabilities over time, long-term contracts and projects could follow, similar to trends seen in NASA and defense contracts.

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CEDAR PARK, Texas, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has invested $50 million into Firefly Aerospace to further advance production of their co-developed medium launch vehicle, now known as Eclipse™. The companies continue to make progress in the development of Eclipse flight hardware with qualification testing underway and more than 60 Miranda engine hot fire tests performed to date. “Firefly is incredibly grateful for Northrop Grumman’s investment that further solidifies our first-of-its-kind partnership to build the first stage of Antares 330 and jointly develop Eclipse,” said Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. “Eclipse represents two powerful forces coming together to transform the launch market with decades of flight heritage, a rapid, iterative approach, and bold innovation. With a 16 metric ton to orbit capability, Eclipse is a sweet spot for programs like NSSL Lane 1 and a natural fit to launch proliferated constellations in LEO, MEO, GEO, and TLI.” Built upon Northrop Grumman’s Antares and Firefly’s Alpha rocket, Eclipse offers a significant leap in power, performance, production cadence, and payload capacity. The launch vehicle retains the flight-proven avionics from the Antares program with additional upgrades, including a larger 5.4 meter payload fairing. Eclipse also utilizes the same first stage Firefly is developing for Antares 330 and retains scaled-up versions of Alpha’s propulsion systems and carbon composite structures, allowing the team to rapidly build and test Eclipse with significant production efficiencies and economies of scale. Firefly utilized the same patented tap-off cycle architecture from Alpha’s Reaver and Lightning engines for Eclipse’s Miranda and Vira engines, and completed mission duty cycle with a 206 second Miranda hot fire, matching the longest time the engine will burn during a flight. Following several development test campaigns, flight hardware has been manufactured for the common dome propellant tanks, engine bay and interstage. “Eclipse gives customers the right balance between payload capacity and affordability,” said Wendy Williams, vice president and general manager, launch and missile defense systems, Northrop Grumman. “Our partnership with Firefly builds on our capacity to provide crucial spaced-based communication, observation, and exploration for civil and national security customers.” Filling a void in an underserved market, Eclipse is equipped to deliver 16,300 kg of cargo to low Earth orbit or 3,200 kg of cargo to geosynchronous transfer orbit. Eclipse will first launch from Wallops Island, Virginia, as early as 2026 and is able to support space station resupply, commercial spacecraft, critical national security missions and scientific payloads for the domestic and international markets. About Firefly AerospaceFirefly Aerospace is an end-to-end responsive space company with launch, lunar, and on-orbit services. Headquartered in central Texas, Firefly is a portfolio company of AE Industrial Partners (“AEI”) focused on delivering rapid, reliable, and affordable space access for government and commercial customers. Firefly’s small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide the space industry with a single source for missions from low Earth orbit to the surface of the Moon and beyond. For more information, visit www.fireflyspace.com. About Northrop GrummanNorthrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our employees define possible every day. Media Contacts Firefly Aerospacepress@fireflyspace.com Northrop GrummanGabrielle.Lemmon@ngc.com Image GalleryEclipse | Flickr A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ffa02daf-0f32-4653-bca9-19ddec554a50 A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/db265e47-71a5-4d88-8ae0-928aa19b163a Eclipse Launch Vehicle - Firefly Aerospace and Northrop Grumman Similar to two celestial bodies coming together, Eclipse represents two powerful forces – Firefly an...

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