Northrop Grumman Opens Its USA Defense Microelectronics Foundries to Outside Companies

Northrop Grumman is now selling dozens of microelectronics components made at government-certified USA facilities to other aerospace and defense companies, Breaking Defense reported on September 18, 2025. Before this, the parts were available only to military programs Northrop itself worked on.

Three USA sites

The parts come from the Advanced Technology Lab in Linthicum, Maryland, Micro-Line in Apopka, Florida, and the Space Park Foundry in Redondo Beach, California. The Maryland and California sites are semiconductor foundries with USA government accreditation. The Florida site focuses on advanced packaging, the process of combining different chips into a single electronics package. Northrop said customers can also work with it to design, test and build custom circuits.

“We are providing partners with unprecedented access to design and develop domestic chips as well as the ability to directly purchase from us.”

Vern Boyle, vice president, Northrop Grumman Microelectronics Center

The move is part of a long Pentagon effort to cut the defense industry’s reliance on Asian suppliers. The Defense Department supports “trusted foundries” certified as secure against supply chain threats, and some defense microelectronics work is funded under the CHIPS Act.

Why it matters for Made in USA

Chips are often the hardest part of an electronics product to source in the USA. When defense makers can buy USA-made microelectronics directly, it becomes easier for them to meet domestic sourcing rules and harder for supply chain threats to reach critical systems.

For electronics, origin claims usually depend on the chips and boards inside, not just final assembly. More domestic chip supply makes stronger USA origin claims possible.

FAQ

What is Northrop Grumman now selling?

Dozens of microelectronics components made at its certified USA facilities, sold to other aerospace and defense companies.

Where are the facilities?

Linthicum, Maryland; Apopka, Florida; and Redondo Beach, California.

What is a trusted foundry?

A chip facility the Defense Department has certified as secure against supply chain threats.