Northrop Grumman’s Rolling Meadows facility, located in northwest suburban Chicago, is the largest defence industry employer in Illinois and a major centre for advanced aerospace and defence technologies. Spanning one million square feet, the site plays a leading role in the development and manufacture of electronic warfare, aircraft survivability and space systems, while supporting thousands of jobs across the state.
As one of Northrop Grumman’s most technologically advanced locations, Rolling Meadows combines digital engineering, automation, robotics and precision manufacturing capabilities in a single integrated environment. By housing development, testing and production under one roof, the facility is able to meet demanding customer requirements and support the efficient delivery of mission-critical technologies.
Northrop Grumman’s contribution to Illinois extends well beyond the Rolling Meadows site. According to a recent study, the company employs more than 3,000 people statewide and generates an economic impact of more than $2 billion across Illinois. It has also invested $253 million with more than 250 Illinois suppliers, helping to strengthen a broad network of local business partnerships.
The company’s presence also delivers value at community level. Employees at Rolling Meadows contribute through corporate and individual giving, as well as thousands of volunteer service hours, supporting people from a wide range of backgrounds, including military families. These efforts help address barriers such as financial hardship while expanding access to education and career opportunities in the technology sector.
Rolling Meadows is a key part of Illinois’ contribution to national security and aerospace innovation. Through advanced technology development, sustained economic investment and active community engagement, Northrop Grumman’s operation demonstrates the wider impact a single manufacturing and development centre can have.
The site supports a range of critical defence capabilities. In electronic warfare, Rolling Meadows develops systems designed to help forces detect and counter threats in the electromagnetic spectrum, including the Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS) for fourth-generation aircraft such as the US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon. In aircraft survivability, the facility develops advanced warning systems and countermeasures including CIRCM and LAIRCM to protect aircraft and crews in combat environments. Its electro-optical and infrared targeting capabilities include the LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod, which supports missions ranging from precision targeting and close air support to surveillance and humanitarian assistance. The site also contributes to space programmes that strengthen national security and support future capability development.
With nearly 100,000 employees and more than 30 million square feet of manufacturing space across the company, Northrop Grumman has the scale to accelerate innovation across the full production cycle. Its manufacturing approach is designed to strengthen the process from design and development through to production and testing, supported by continued investment in US infrastructure, research and development, workforce capability and supply chain resilience.
