Northrop Grumman 10-K 2020-12-31

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020

or

For the transition period from to Commission file number 1-16411

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(703) 280-2900

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act

Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

Large Accelerated Filer ☒ Accelerated Filer ☐ Smaller Reporting Company ☐

Non-accelerated Filer ☐ Emerging Growth Company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Yes ☐ No ☒

As of June 30, 2020, the aggregate market value of the common stock (based upon the closing price of the stock on the New York Stock Exchange) of the registrant held by non-affiliates was approximately $51.2 billion.

As of January 25, 2021, 166,718,384 shares of common stock were outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K.

NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PART I

HISTORY AND ORGANIZATION

History

Northrop Grumman Corporation (herein referred to as “Northrop Grumman,” the “company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a leading global aerospace and defense company. We use our broad portfolio of capabilities and technologies to create and deliver innovative platforms, systems and solutions in space; manned and autonomous airborne systems, including strike; strategic deterrence systems; hypersonics; missile defense; weapons systems; cyber; command, control, communications and computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR); and logistics and modernization. We participate in many high-priority defense and government programs in the United States (U.S.) and abroad. We conduct most of our business with the U.S. government, principally the Department of Defense (DoD) and intelligence community. We also conduct business with foreign, state and local governments, as well as commercial customers. For a discussion of risks associated with our operations, see “Risk Factors.”

The company originally was formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1939, as Northrop Aircraft Incorporated and was reincorporated in Delaware in 1985, as Northrop Corporation. Northrop Corporation was a principal developer of flying wing technology, including the B-2 Spirit bomber. The company developed into one of the largest defense contractors in the world through a series of acquisitions, as well as organic growth. In 1994, we acquired Grumman Corporation (Grumman), after which time the company was renamed Northrop Grumman Corporation. Grumman was a premier military aircraft systems integrator and builder of the Lunar Module that first delivered humans to the surface of the moon. In 1996, we acquired the defense and electronics businesses of Westinghouse Electric Corporation, a world leader in the development and production of sophisticated radar and other electronic systems for the nation’s defense, civil aviation, and other U.S. and international applications. In 2001, we acquired Litton Industries, Inc., a global electronics and information technology company, and one of the nation’s leading full service shipbuilders. Also in 2001, we acquired Newport News Shipbuilding Inc., a leading designer and builder of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines. In 2002, we acquired TRW Inc., a leading developer of military and civil space systems and payloads, as well as a leading global integrator of complex, mission-enabling systems and services. In 2011, we completed the spin-off to our shareholders of Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII). HII operates our former Shipbuilding business, comprised largely of a part of Litton Industries and Newport News Shipbuilding. In 2018, we acquired Orbital ATK, Inc., a global leader in the development and production of launch vehicles, missile products and satellites and other space systems. In the fourth quarter of 2020, we entered into a definitive agreement to sell our IT and mission support services business for $3.4 billion in cash, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. The sale is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021. The business descriptions below reflect our business as of December 31, 2020 and will evolve subsequent to the planned divestiture of our IT and mission support services business.

Organization

From time to time, we acquire or dispose of businesses and realign contracts, programs or businesses among and within our operating segments. Internal realignments are typically designed to leverage existing capabilities more fully and to enhance efficient development and delivery of products and services. The operating results for all periods presented have been revised to reflect any such changes made through December 31, 2020. We are currently aligned in four operating sectors, which also comprise our reportable segments: Aeronautics Systems, Defense Systems, Mission Systems and Space Systems.

AERONAUTICS SYSTEMS

Aeronautics Systems, headquartered in Palmdale, California, is a leader in the design, development, integration and production of autonomous and manned aircraft systems used for battle management, strike and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). Aeronautics Systems’ primary customers are the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, other U.S. government agencies and international customers. The sector is reported in two business areas that reflect our core capabilities: Autonomous Systems and Manned Aircraft.

Autonomous Systems – designs, develops, manufactures, integrates and sustains autonomous aircraft systems for strategic and tactical ISR missions. Strategic ISR programs include high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) autonomous systems, such as the U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk, which provides near real-time high resolution imagery of land masses for theater awareness; the U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton, which provides real-time ISR over vast ocean and coastal regions for maritime domain awareness; the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) system for ISR missions conducted in multinational theater operations; and HALE autonomous ISR systems for Japan and the Republic of Korea. Tactical ISR programs include the U.S. Navy MQ-8B and -8C Fire Scout, ship-based vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) systems that provide situational

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awareness for maritime forces and precision targeting support; and the Firebird product line, which is available in manned, autonomous and optionally-piloted configurations, and provides flexibility through open architecture and plug-and-play mission payload integration.

Manned Aircraft – designs, develops, manufactures and integrates strategic long-range strike aircraft systems, tactical fighter aircraft and airborne battle management systems. Long-range strike aircraft programs include the U.S. Air Force’s B-21 Raider long-range strike bomber and modernization and sustainment services for the B-2 Spirit bomber. Tactical fighter aircraft programs include the design, development, manufacture and integration of the F-35 Lightning II center fuselage and F/A-18 Super Hornet center/aft fuselage sections. Airborne battle management programs include the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye and E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS).

DEFENSE SYSTEMS

Defense Systems, headquartered in McLean, Virginia, is a leader in the design, development, production, integration, sustainment and modernization of weapon and mission systems for U.S. military and civilian agency customers, and a broad range of international customers. Major products and services include integrated battle management systems, weapons systems, mission system sustainment and modernization, information technology services and intelligence operations. The sector is reported in two business areas that reflect our core capabilities: Battle Management & Missile Systems, and Mission Readiness.

Battle Management & Missile Systems – designs, develops and integrates multi-domain command and control (C2) and weapons systems, including munitions and missiles. The business provides integration and interoperability of net-enabled battle management, sensors, targeting and surveillance systems, as well as air and missile defense C2 systems. It also develops and produces precision strike weapons; advanced propulsion, including high speed air-breathing systems; and high-performance gun systems and precision munitions. Competencies include system and software development; integration of weapon systems; tactical missile and component development and production; and production of advanced fuzes, munitions and defense electronics. Key programs include the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) for the U.S. Army and Poland; Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM); the U.S. Navy’s Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM); Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS); Precision Guidance Kit (PGK); and the Mission Command Training Program (MCTP).

Mission Readiness – provides full life cycle service and support for software, weapons systems and aircraft, and logistics support, sustainment, operations and modernization for air, sea and ground systems. It also provides full life cycle development, modernization and sustainment of information systems; security services including information and cyber operations; and intelligence analysis and support. Competencies include aircraft, electronics and software sustainment and engineering; electronic subsystems modernization; weapon systems logistics support; cyber; data analytics and decision support tools; and IT infrastructure including cloud. Key programs include AAQ-24 and APN-241 sensor sustainment; system sustainment and operations support for the B-2 Spirit bomber, E-8C JSTARS surveillance aircraft, KC-30A multi-role tanker, C-27J transport, UK E-3D Airborne Early Warning and Control System, Global Hawk, Triton, and F-35; the Social Security Administration Information Technology Support Services Contract (SSA-ITSSC); Counter Threat Messaging (CTM) for Joint Services; restricted intelligence operations; and Consular Systems Modernization (CSM) for Department of State.

MISSION SYSTEMS

Mission Systems, headquartered in Linthicum, Maryland, is a leader in advanced mission solutions and multifunction systems, primarily for the U.S. defense and intelligence community and international customers. Major products and services include C4ISR systems; radar, electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) and acoustic sensors; electronic warfare systems; advanced communications and network systems; cyber solutions; intelligence processing systems; navigation; and maritime power, propulsion and payload launch systems. The sector is reported in four business areas that reflect our core capabilities: Airborne Sensors & Networks; Cyber & Intelligence Mission Solutions; Maritime/Land Systems & Sensors; and Navigation, Targeting & Survivability.

Airborne Sensors & Networks – delivers products, systems and services that support airborne platforms with advanced communications and network systems; multi-function radio frequency (RF) and EO/IR systems; radar, electronic warfare and situational awareness mission systems; and high altitude ISR sensors. Competencies include fire control, surveillance and early warning and control radar systems; electronic attack and electronic support systems; software defined radios and network gateways, communications and counter-communications systems; and multi-sensor processing. Key programs include Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C); Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN); F-35 fire control radar, Distributed Aperture System (DAS), and Communications,

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Navigation and Identification (CNI) integrated avionics system; LONGBOW Fire Control Radar (FCR); Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW); Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR); and restricted programs.

Cyber & Intelligence Mission Solutions – delivers products, systems and services that support full-spectrum cyber solutions, secure processing, transformational computing, advanced technology development, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) mission systems and enterprise integration of multi-intelligence mission data across all domains. Competencies include cyber mission management; large-scale cyber solutions for national security applications; cyber survivability; ground software systems; SIGINT sensors and processing; and geospatial intelligence and data fusion, specializing in the collection, processing and exploitation of data. Key programs include exploitation and cyber programs; Enhanced Solutions for the Information Technology Enterprise (E-SITE); the Enterprise Application Managed Services (EAMS) program; the Transforming All-Source Analysis with Location-Based Object Services (TALOS); the Unified Platform System Coordinator program; the Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload (ASIP); and restricted programs.

Maritime/Land Systems & Sensors – delivers products, systems and services that enable maritime and ground platform mission capabilities via sensors, targeting and surveillance systems; electronic warfare systems; mission module integration; power, propulsion and control systems; and missile launchers. Competencies include ground and maritime radar systems; nuclear ship propulsion and power generation systems; shipboard missile and encapsulated payload launch systems; integrated bridge systems; unmanned maritime vehicles; high-resolution undersea sensors; deep-sea packaging; and mission integration. Key programs include the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) Block III; Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR); submarine power, propulsion, launch and sensing systems for Ohio, Virginia and Columbia class submarines; AQS-24B Minehunting System; Littoral Combat Ship Mission Module Integration; DDG Modernization; Offshore Patrol Cutter; and restricted programs associated with the maritime operating domain.

Navigation, Targeting & Survivability – delivers products, systems and services that support aircraft platforms with targeting, self-protection and situational awareness mission systems; and provides embedded navigation and positioning sensors for a range of platforms including ships, aircraft, spacecraft and weapons. Competencies include EO/IR and RF self-protection; targeting and surveillance systems; digitized cockpits; and inertial navigation systems. Key programs include the LITENING Advanced Targeting Pod; Large Aircraft and Common Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM, DoN LAIRCM, CIRCM) systems; APR-39 DV(2) and EV(2) Radar Warning Receiver programs; AC/MC 130J Radio Frequency Countermeasures; the Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation Systems-Modernization (EGI-M) program; the UH-60V Black Hawk integrated mission equipment package; and restricted programs.

SPACE SYSTEMS

Space Systems, headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, is a leader in delivering end-to-end mission solutions through the design, development, integration, production and operation of space, missile defense, launch and strategic missile systems for national security, civil government, commercial and international customers. Major products include satellites and payloads; ground systems; missile defense systems and interceptors; launch vehicles and related propulsion systems; and strategic missiles. The sector is reported in two business areas that reflect our core capabilities: Launch & Strategic Missiles, and Space.

Launch & Strategic Missiles – designs, develops, manufactures and integrates large strategic missile systems; missile defense systems; small- and medium-class space launch vehicles to place satellites into earth orbit and escape trajectories; and suborbital launch vehicles that place payloads into a variety of high-altitude trajectories. Competencies include large strategic missile design, integration, production, and sustainment as well as the production of medium- and large-class rocket propulsion systems for human and cargo launch vehicles, hypersonic boosters and missile defense interceptors. Key programs include missile defense systems, interceptors, and boosters for the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system and Ground Based Interceptor (GBI); the Antares rocket used in the execution of our Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contracts with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); the development and production of solid rocket motors for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) heavy lift vehicle; medium-class solid rocket motors for the U.S. Navy's Trident II Fleet Ballistic Missile program; Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) Engineering & Manufacturing Development (EMD) program; and the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Ground Subsystem Support Contract (GSSC).

Space – designs, develops, manufactures and integrates spacecraft systems, subsystems, sensors, payloads and ground systems to deliver mission capability to national security, science and environmental, communications, on-orbit servicing, and human-rated space systems for earth orbit and deep-space exploration missions. Much of this business is performed through restricted programs. Key unrestricted programs include the Cygnus spacecraft used in

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the execution of our CRS contracts with NASA; Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF), Enhanced Polar System (EPS), Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS), and Protected Tactical SATCOM (PTS) payloads providing survivable, protected communications to U.S. forces; Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared Program (OPIR) satellites and payloads providing data for missile defense; and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), a large infrared telescope being built for NASA that will be deployed in space to study the origins of the universe.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

For a summary of selected consolidated financial information, see “Selected Financial Data” under Part II - Item 6.

CUSTOMER CONCENTRATION

Our largest customer is the U.S. government. Sales to the U.S. government accounted for 84 percent, 83 percent and 82 percent of sales during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. For further information on sales by customer type, contract type and geographic region, see Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements. No single program accounted for more than ten percent of total sales during any period presented. See “Risk Factors” for further discussion regarding risks related to customer concentration.

COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS

We compete with many companies in the defense, intelligence and federal civil markets. Boeing Company, General Dynamics, L3Harris Technologies, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon Technologies are some of our primary competitors. Key characteristics of our industry include long operating cycles and intense competition, which is evident through the number of competitors bidding on program opportunities and the number of bid protests (competitor protests of U.S. government procurement awards).

It is common in the defense industry for work on major programs to be shared among a number of companies. A company competing to be a prime contractor may, upon ultimate award of the contract to another competitor, become a subcontractor to the ultimate prime contracting company. It is not unusual to compete for a contract award with a peer company and, simultaneously, perform as a supplier to or a customer of that same competitor on other contracts, or vice versa.

SEASONALITY

No material portion of our business is considered to be seasonal.

BACKLOG

At December 31, 2020, total backlog, which is equivalent to the company’s remaining performance obligations, was $81.0 billion as compared with $64.8 billion at December 31, 2019. For further information, see “Backlog” in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” (MD&A) and Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

We routinely apply for and own a number of U.S. and foreign patents related to the technologies we develop. We also develop and protect intellectual property as trade secrets. In addition to owning a large portfolio of proprietary intellectual property, we license some intellectual property rights to third parties and we license or otherwise obtain access to intellectual property from third parties. The U.S. government typically holds licenses to patents developed in the performance of U.S. government contracts and may use or authorize others to use the inventions covered by these patents for certain purposes. See “Risk Factors” for further discussion regarding risks related to intellectual property.

RAW MATERIALS

We have not experienced significant delays in the supply or availability of raw materials, nor have we experienced a significant price increase for raw materials. See “Risk Factors” for further discussion regarding risks related to raw materials.

HUMAN CAPITAL

Creating a diverse, talented and inclusive workplace is central to our culture, employee engagement, innovation and excellence, and in performing and delivering on our commitments. Our culture is an important factor in our ability to continue attracting and retaining qualified employees, particularly those with security clearances and requisite skills in multiple areas, including science, technology, engineering and math. This focus was a factor in our ability to hire approximately 13,000 new employees in 2020.

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Additional information regarding our human capital strategy is available in our comprehensive Sustainability Report and Proxy Statement that can be found on our company website. Information on our website, including our Sustainability Report, is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.

Our Values and Culture

Our values reflect our priorities and form the bedrock of our culture:

• We do the right thing – we earn trust, act with ethics, integrity and transparency, treat everyone with respect, value diversity and foster safe and inclusive environments.

• We do what we promise – we own the delivery of results, focused on quality.

• We commit to shared success – we work together to focus on the mission and take accountability for the sustainable success of our people, customers, shareholders, suppliers and communities.

• We pioneer – with fierce curiosity, dedication and innovation, we seek to solve the world’s most challenging problems.

We believe our values are vital to the continued and future success of the company, and in our ability to attract and retain a diverse workforce. Our values are also integral to our commitment to long-term sustainability, with robust environmental, social and governance practices across our company.

Our annual employee survey gives employees the opportunity to provide feedback on our culture. This survey is managed by a third-party vendor to encourage candor and solicit feedback on many aspects of engagement, including company leadership, culture, inclusion and career development. In 2020, our employee response rate was 84%, an indication that our employees believe their feedback is important. Our leaders review the survey feedback and work with their teams to take action based on survey results.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Diversity, equity and inclusion are, and have long been, critical to our culture and our company’s success. This focus enhances engagement and increases innovation and quality, enabling us to deliver better performance for our shareholders, customers, and employees. Diversity is one of the company’s non-financial ESG performance metrics and is reviewed by the Board of Directors. Across our total employee population, as of December 31, 2020, 25% are female, 36% are people of color, 18% are veterans and 8% are persons with disabilities. Over the past 10 years, at the vice president level, we have doubled the representation of females from 16% to 32% and increased the representation of people of color by approximately 65%, from 11% to 18%.

Talent Development

We develop and retain our employees with the skills and capabilities to support the company’s growth and innovation. We offer our employees career-specific tools and resources and support development opportunities through our Education Assistance Program, early education rotation program, apprenticeships and robust training at all levels.

Collective Agreements

Approximately 4,000 employees are covered by 17 collective agreements in the U.S., of which we negotiated six renewals in 2020 and expect to negotiate five renewals in 2021.

See “Risk Factors” for further discussion regarding risks related to our workforce and employee relations.

REGULATORY MATTERS

Government Contract Security Restrictions

We are prohibited by the U.S. government from publicly discussing the details of certain classified programs. These programs are generally referred to as “restricted” in this Annual Report. The consolidated financial statements and financial information in this Annual Report reflect the operating results of our entire company, including restricted programs.

Contracts

We generate the majority of our business from long-term contracts with the U.S. government for development, production and support activities. Unless otherwise specified in a contract, allowable and allocable costs are billed to contracts with the U.S. government pursuant to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and U.S. government Cost Accounting Standards (CAS). Examples of costs incurred by us and not billed to the U.S. government in

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accordance with the FAR and CAS include, but are not limited to, unallowable employee compensation costs, certain legal costs, charitable donations, interest expense and advertising costs.

We monitor our contracts on a regular basis for compliance with our policies and procedures and applicable government laws and regulations. In addition, costs incurred and allocated to contracts with the U.S. government are routinely audited by the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA).

Our long-term contracts typically fall into one of two contract types:

Cost-type contracts – Cost-type contracts include cost plus fixed fee, cost plus award fee and cost plus incentive fee contracts. Cost-type contracts generally provide for reimbursement of a contractor’s allowable costs incurred plus fee. As a result, cost-type contracts have less financial risk associated with unanticipated cost growth but generally provide lower profit margins than fixed-price contracts. Cost-type contracts typically require that the contractor use its best efforts to accomplish the scope of the work within some specified time and stated dollar limitation. Fees on cost-type contracts can be fixed in terms of dollar value or can be variable due to award and incentive fees, which are generally based on performance criteria such as cost, schedule, quality and/or technical performance. Award fees are determined and earned based on customer evaluation of the company’s performance against contractual criteria. Incentive fees are generally based on cost or schedule and provide for an initially negotiated fee to be adjusted later, based on the relationship of total allowable costs to total target costs or as schedule milestones are met. Award and incentive fees are included in total estimated sales to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. We estimate variable consideration as the most likely amount to which we expect to be entitled.

Fixed-price contracts – Firm fixed-price contracts include a specified scope of work for a price that is a pre-determined, negotiated amount and not generally subject to adjustment regardless of costs incurred by the contractor, absent changes in scope by the customer. As a result, fixed-price contracts have more financial risk associated with unanticipated cost growth, but generally provide the opportunity for higher profit margins than cost-type contracts. Certain fixed-price incentive fee contracts provide for reimbursement of the contractor’s allowable costs plus a fee up to a cost ceiling amount, typically through a cost-sharing ratio that affects profitability. These contracts effectively become firm fixed-price contracts once the cost-share ceiling is reached. Time-and-materials contracts are considered fixed-price contracts as they specify a fixed hourly rate for each labor hour charged.

Profit margins on our contracts may vary materially depending on, among other things, the contract type, contract phase (e.g., development, low-rate production or mature production), negotiated fee arrangements, achievement of performance objectives, and cost, schedule and technical performance.

See Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements and “Risk Factors” for further information regarding our contracts and Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements for sales by contract type.

The following table summarizes sales for the year ended December 31, 2020, recognized by contract type and customer category:

(1)Sales to the U.S. government include sales from contracts for which we are the prime contractor, as well as those for which we are a subcontractor and the ultimate customer is the U.S. government. Each of the company’s segments derives substantial revenue from the U.S. government.

(2) International sales include sales from contracts for which we are the prime contractor, as well as those for which we are a subcontractor and the ultimate customer is an international customer. These sales include foreign military sales contracted through the U.S. government.

Environmental

Our operations are subject to and affected by federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations and enforcement actions relating to protection of the environment. In 2015, we announced our 2020 environmental sustainability goals: to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent from 2010 levels; to reduce potable water use by

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20 percent from 2014 levels; and to achieve a 70 percent solid waste diversion rate (away from landfills). We are currently measuring our performance to those goals and are in the process of developing new environmental sustainability goals for 2021 and beyond.

We have incurred and expect to continue to incur capital and operating costs to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations and to achieve our environmental sustainability commitments. See “Risk Factors” and Notes 1 and 12 to the consolidated financial statements for further information regarding environmental matters.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

See “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance” for information about our executive officers.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

Our principal executive offices are located at 2980 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church, Virginia 22042. Our telephone number is (703) 280-2900 and our home page is www.northropgrumman.com.

Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and proxy statement for the annual shareholders’ meeting, as well as any amendments to those reports, are available free of charge through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we file them with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). You can learn more about us by reviewing our SEC filings on the investor relations page of our website.

The SEC also maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about SEC registrants, including Northrop Grumman Corporation.

References to our website and the SEC’s website in this report are provided as a convenience and do not constitute, and should not be viewed as, incorporation by reference of the information contained on, or available through, such websites. Such information should not be considered a part of this report, unless otherwise expressly incorporated by reference in this report.

Our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows are subject to various risks, many of which are not exclusively within our control, that may cause actual performance to differ materially from historical or projected future performance. We encourage you to consider carefully the risk factors described below in evaluating the information contained in this report as the outcome of one or more of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows.

Industry and Economic Risks

**▪**We depend heavily on a single customer, the U.S. government, for a substantial portion of our business. Changes in this customer’s priorities and spending could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows.

Our primary customer is the U.S. government, from which we derived 84 percent of our sales in 2020; we have a number of large programs with the U.S. Department of the Air Force, in particular. The U.S. government has been implementing significant changes and spending levels have fluctuated and may continue to fluctuate over time even more so. We cannot predict the impact on existing, follow-on, replacement or future programs from potential changes in the threat environment, defense spending levels, government priorities, political leadership, procurement strategy, military strategy and planning; or broader changes in social, economic or political demands and priorities. The U.S. government also has the ability to delay, modify or cancel ongoing competitions, procurements and programs, as well as to change its future acquisition strategy.

The U.S. government generally has the ability to terminate contracts, in whole or in part, for its convenience or for default based on performance. In the event of termination for the U.S. government’s convenience, contractors are generally protected by provisions covering reimbursement for costs incurred on the contracts and profit on those costs up to the amount authorized under the contract, but not the anticipated profit that would have been earned had the contract been completed. Termination by the U.S. government of a contract due to default could require us to pay for re-procurement costs in excess of the original contract price, net of the value of work accepted from the original contract, as well as other damages. Termination of a contract due to our default could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, our ability to compete for other contracts and our financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows.

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The U.S. government also has the ability to stop work under a contract for a limited period of time for its convenience. It is possible that the U.S. government could invoke this ability across a limited or broad number of contracts. In the event of a stop work order, contractors are typically protected by provisions covering reimbursement for costs incurred on the contract to date and for costs associated with the temporary stoppage of work on the contract plus a reasonable fee. However, such temporary stoppages and delays could introduce inefficiencies and result in financial and other damages for which we may not be able to negotiate full recovery from the U.S. government. They could also ultimately result in termination of a contract (or contracts) for convenience or reduced future orders.

A significant shift in government priorities, programs or acquisition strategies could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows.

**▪**Significant delays or reductions in appropriations for our programs and U.S. government funding more broadly may negatively impact our business and programs and could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows.

U.S. government programs are subject to annual congressional budget authorization and appropriation processes. For many programs, Congress appropriates funds on an annual fiscal year basis even though the program performance period may extend over several years. Consequently, programs are often partially funded initially and additional funds are committed only as Congress makes further appropriations. If we incur costs in excess of funds obligated on a contract, we may be at risk for reimbursement of those costs unless and until additional funds are obligated to the contract. More broadly, we cannot predict the extent to which total funding and/or funding for individual programs will be included, increased or reduced as part of the annual appropriations ultimately approved by Congress and the President or in separate supplemental appropriations or continuing resolutions, as applicable. Laws and plans adopted by the U.S. government relating to, along with pressures on and uncertainty surrounding the federal budget, potential changes in priorities and defense spending levels, sequestration, the appropriations process, use of continuing resolutions (with restrictions, e.g., on new starts) and the permissible federal debt limit, could adversely affect the funding for individual programs and delay purchasing or payment decisions by our customers. In the event government funding for our significant programs becomes unavailable, or is reduced or delayed, or planned orders are reduced, our contract or subcontract for such programs may be terminated or adjusted by the U.S. government or the prime contractor.

The U.S. continues to face an uncertain and changing political environment and substantial fiscal and economic challenges, which affect funding for discretionary and non-discretionary budgets. The Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA) mandated spending caps for all federal discretionary spending across a ten-year period (FY 2012 through FY 2021), including specific limits for defense and non-defense spending. In prior years, these spending caps have been revised by separate bills for specific fiscal years.

In August 2019, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 was enacted, increasing spending caps under the Budget Control Act (BCA) for FY 2020 and FY 2021, the final two fiscal years covered by the BCA, and suspending the debt ceiling through July 31, 2021. In February 2020, the then President proposed a budget request for FY 2021, which addressed various capabilities highlighted in the U.S. National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy and the Missile Defense Review. On December 27, 2020, FY 2021 appropriations were enacted under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

The budget environment and uncertainty surrounding the appropriations processes and the debt ceiling, remain significant short and long-term risks. Considerable uncertainty exists regarding how future budget and program decisions will unfold, including the defense spending priorities of the new Administration and Congress, and what challenges budget reductions will present for the defense industry. If annual appropriations bills are not timely enacted, the U.S. government may continue to operate under a continuing resolution, restricting new contract or program starts, presenting resource allocation challenges and placing limitations on some planned program budgets, and we may face a government shutdown of unknown duration. If a prolonged government shutdown of the DoD were to occur, it could result in program cancellations, disruptions and/or stop work orders and could limit the U.S. government’s ability effectively to progress programs and to make timely payments, and our ability to perform on our U.S. government contracts and successfully compete for new work.

We believe continued budget pressures could have serious negative consequences for the security of our country, the defense industrial base, including Northrop Grumman, and the customers, employees, suppliers, investors and communities that rely

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None.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND PROJECTIONS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K and the information we are incorporating by reference contain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “believe,” “estimate,” “outlook,” “trends,” “goals” and similar expressions generally identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to our future financial condition, results of operations and/or cash flows. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions, expectations, plans and projections that we believe to be reasonable when made, but which may change over time. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and inherently involve a wide range of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Specific risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those identified under “Risk Factors” and other important factors disclosed in this report and from time to time in our other filings with the SEC. These risks and uncertainties are amplified by the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused and will continue to cause significant challenges, instability and uncertainty. They include:

• the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak or future epidemics on our business, including the potential for worker absenteeism, facility closures, work slowdowns or stoppages, supply chain disruptions, additional costs and liabilities, program delays, our ability to recover costs under contracts, changing government funding and acquisition priorities and processes, changing government payment rules and practices, insurance challenges, and potential impacts on access to capital, the markets and the fair value of our assets

• our dependence on the U.S. government for a substantial portion of our business

• significant delays or reductions in appropriations for our programs, and U.S. government funding and program support more broadly

• investigations, claims, disputes, enforcement actions, litigation and/or other legal proceedings

• the use of estimates when accounting for our contracts and the effect of contract cost growth and/or changes in estimated contract revenues and costs

• our exposure to additional risks as a result of our international business, including risks related to geopolitical and economic factors, suppliers, laws and regulations

• the improper conduct of employees, agents, subcontractors, suppliers, business partners or joint ventures in which we participate and the impact on our reputation and our ability to do business

• cyber and other security threats or disruptions faced by us, our customers or our suppliers and other partners

• the performance and financial viability of our subcontractors and suppliers and the availability and pricing of raw materials and components

• changes in procurement and other laws, regulations, contract terms and practices applicable to our industry, findings by the U.S. government as to our compliance with such requirements, and changes in our customers’ business practices globally

• increased competition within our markets and bid protests

• the ability to maintain a qualified workforce with the required security clearances and requisite skills

• our ability to meet performance obligations under our contracts, including obligations that require innovative design capabilities, are technologically complex, require certain manufacturing expertise or are dependent on factors not wholly within our control

• environmental matters, including unforeseen environmental costs and government and third party claims

• natural disasters

• health epidemics, pandemics and similar outbreaks

• the adequacy and availability of our insurance coverage, customer indemnifications or other liability protections

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NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

• products and services we provide related to hazardous and high risk operations, including the production and use of such products, which subject us to various environmental, regulatory, financial, reputational and other risks

• the future investment performance of plan assets, changes in actuarial assumptions associated with our pension and other postretirement benefit plans and legislative or other regulatory actions impacting our pension and postretirement benefit obligations

• our ability appropriately to exploit and/or protect intellectual property rights

• our ability to develop new products and technologies and maintain technologies, facilities, and equipment to win new competitions and meet the needs of our customers

• unanticipated changes in our tax provisions or exposure to additional tax liabilities

• changes in business conditions that could impact business investments and/or recorded goodwill or the value of other long-lived assets

We urge you to consider the limitations on, and risks associated with, forward-looking statements and not unduly rely on the accuracy of forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date this report is first filed or, in the case of any document incorporated by reference, the date of that document. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

At December 31, 2020, we had approximately 51 million square feet of floor space at 530 separate locations, primarily in the U.S., for manufacturing, warehousing, research and testing, administration and various other uses.

At December 31, 2020, we leased to third parties approximately 189,000 square feet of our owned and leased facilities.

At December 31, 2020, we had major operations at the following locations:

Aeronautics Systems

El Segundo, Mojave, Palmdale, Redondo Beach and San Diego, CA; Melbourne and St. Augustine, FL; Iuka and Moss Point, MS; Beavercreek, OH; Oklahoma City, OK; and Clearfield, UT.

Defense Systems

Huntsville, AL; Mesa and Sierra Vista, AZ; Los Angeles, CA; Warner Robins, GA; Lake Charles, LA; Baltimore, Cumberland and Elkton, MD; Elk River and Plymouth, MN; Dulles, McLean, Radford and Richmond, VA; and Keyser, WV. Locations outside the U.S. include Australia.

Mission Systems

McClellan, San Diego, Sunnyvale and Woodland Hills, CA; Apopka, FL; Rolling Meadows, IL; Annapolis, Annapolis Junction, Elkridge, Halethorpe, Linthicum and Sykesville, MD; Bethpage and Williamsville, NY; Cincinnati, OH; Salt Lake City, UT; and Chantilly, Charlottesville and Fairfax, VA. Locations outside the U.S. include France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Space Systems

Huntsville, AL; Chandler, Gilbert and Tempe, AZ; Azusa, Carson, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Oxnard, Redondo Beach and San Diego, CA; Aurora and Colorado Springs, CO; Devens, MA; Beltsville, MD; Eden Prairie, MN; Brigham City, Clearfield, Magna, Ogden, Roy and Tremonton, UT; and Dulles and Sterling, VA.

Corporate

Falls Church and Lebanon, VA.

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NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

The following is a summary of our floor space at December 31, 2020:

We maintain our properties in good operating condition and believe the productive capacity of our properties is adequate to meet current contractual requirements and those for the foreseeable future.

We have provided information about certain legal proceedings in which we are involved in Notes 11 and 12 to the consolidated financial statements.

We are a party to various investigations, lawsuits, arbitration, claims, enforcement actions and other legal proceedings, including government investigations and claims, that arise in the ordinary course of our business. These types of matters could result in administrative, civil or criminal fines, penalties or other sanctions (which terms include judgments or convictions and consent or other voluntary decrees or agreements); compensatory, treble or other damages; non-monetary relief or actions; or other liabilities. Government regulations provide that certain allegations against a contractor may lead to suspension or debarment from future government contracts or suspension of export privileges for the company or one or more of its components. The nature of legal proceedings is such that we cannot assure the outcome of any particular matter. For additional information on pending matters, please see Notes 11 and 12 to the consolidated financial statements, and for further information on the risks we face from existing and future investigations, lawsuits, arbitration, claims, enforcement actions and other legal proceedings, please see “Risk Factors.”

Consistent with SEC Regulation S-K Item 103, we have elected to disclose those environmental proceedings with a governmental entity as a party where the company reasonably believes such proceeding would result in monetary sanctions, exclusive of interest and costs, of $1.0 million or more.

No information is required in response to this item.

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NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

PART II

COMMON STOCK

We have 800,000,000 shares authorized at a $1 par value per share, of which 166,717,179 shares and 167,848,424 shares were issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

PREFERRED STOCK

We have 10,000,000 shares authorized at a $1 par value per share, of which no shares were issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.

MARKET INFORMATION

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol NOC.

HOLDERS

As of January 25, 2021, there were 20,639 common shareholders of record.

PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS

We had no repurchases of common stock during the three months ended December 31, 2020. On January 25, 2021, the company’s board of directors authorized a new share repurchase program of up to an additional $3.0 billion in share repurchases of the company’s common stock (the “2021 Repurchase Program”), bringing the total outstanding authorization up to $5.8 billion. By its terms, repurchases under the 2021 Repurchase Program will commence upon completion of the prior share repurchase program authorized on December 4, 2018 and will expire when we have used all authorized funds for repurchases.

Share repurchases take place from time to time, subject to market conditions and management’s discretion, in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. The company retires its common stock upon repurchase and, in the periods presented, has not made any purchases of common stock other than in connection with these publicly announced repurchase programs.

See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements for further information on our share repurchase programs.

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NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH

Comparison of Cumulative Five Year Total Return

Among Northrop Grumman, the S&P 500 Index and the S&P Aerospace & Defense (A&D) Index

• Assumes $100 invested at the close of business on December 31, 2015, in Northrop Grumman Corporation common stock, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 Index and the S&P Aerospace & Defense Index.

• The cumulative total return assumes reinvestment of dividends.

• The S&P Aerospace & Defense Index is comprised of The Boeing Company, General Dynamics Corporation, Howmet Aerospace Inc., Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc., L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, Textron, Inc., and TransDigm Group Incorporated.

• The total return is weighted according to market capitalization of each company at the beginning of each year.

• This graph is not deemed to be “filed” with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), and should not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any of our prior or subsequent filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act.

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NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

The data presented in the following table is derived from the audited consolidated financial statements and other information.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

(1)Selected financial data includes the operating results of Orbital ATK subsequent to the June 6, 2018 merger date.

(2)We adopted ASC Topic 842, Leases, on January 1, 2019 using the optional transition method and, as a result, did not recast years prior to 2019.

(3)Other long-term obligations include pension and other postretirement benefit (OPB) plan liabilities, operating lease liabilities, deferred tax liabilities and other non-current liabilities, including unrecognized tax benefits, deferred compensation and environmental liabilities.

(4)Adjusted free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” – “Adjusted Free Cash Flow” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations (MD&A) for our definition of this measure, including a reconciliation of adjusted free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities.

(5)We applied the ASC Topic 606 transition practical expedient related to remaining performance obligations for reporting periods presented before the date of initial application. As such, years prior to 2017 have not been restated for the adoption of ASC Topic 606. For comparative purposes, we have recast our backlog as of December 31, 2017 to reflect the impact of ASC Topic 606.

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NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

OVERVIEW

The following discussion should be read along with the financial statements included in this Form 10-K, as well as Part II, “Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (“2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K”), as well as Exhibit 99.3 of our Form 8-K that we filed with the SEC on April 29, 2020, which recasts the disclosures in certain portions of the 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K to reflect changes in the company’s reportable segments, both of which provide additional information on comparisons of years 2019 and 2018.

Acquisition of Orbital ATK

On June 6, 2018 (the “Merger Date”), the company completed its previously announced acquisition of Orbital ATK, Inc. (“Orbital ATK”) (the “Merger”). On the Merger date, Orbital ATK became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company and its name was changed to Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc. We established Innovation Systems as a new, fourth business sector. The operating results of legacy Innovation Systems subsequent to the Merger Date have been included in the company’s consolidated results of operations and, upon our January 1, 2020 sector realignment, are reflected in the Space Systems, Defense Systems and Aeronautics Systems sectors. See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements for further information regarding the acquisition of Orbital ATK.

In June 2018, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a Decision and Order enabling the acquisition to proceed and providing for solid rocket motors to be available on a non-discriminatory basis under certain circumstances and processes. The company has taken and continues to take robust actions to help ensure compliance with the terms of the Order. Similarly, the Compliance Officer, appointed under the Order, and the FTC have taken and continue to take various actions to oversee compliance. In October 2019, the company received a civil investigative demand from the FTC requesting certain information relating to a potential issue of the company’s compliance with the Order in connection with a then pending strategic missile competition. The company has provided information in response to the request. We believe the company has been and continues to be in full compliance with the Order, but we cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter.

Disposition of IT and Mission Support Services Business

On December 7, 2020, we entered into a definitive agreement to sell our IT and mission support services business for $3.4 billion in cash. The IT and mission support services business is comprised of the majority of the Information Solutions and Services (IS&S) division of Defense Systems (excluding our Vinnell Arabia business); select cyber, intelligence and missions support programs, which are part of the Cyber and Intelligence Mission Solutions (CIMS) division of Mission Systems; and the Space Technical Services business unit of Space Systems. The assets and liabilities of the IT and mission support services business were classified as held for sale in the consolidated statement of financial position as of December 31, 2020 and no impairment losses were recognized in the consolidated statement of earnings and comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2020. We expect to complete the sale of the IT and mission support services business in the first quarter of 2021, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements for further information regarding the disposition.

COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) was first reported in late 2019 and has since dramatically impacted the global health and economic environment, including millions of confirmed cases, business slowdowns or shutdowns, government challenges and market volatility. In March 2020, the World Health Organization characterized COVID-19 as a global pandemic, and the President declared a national emergency concerning the COVID-19 outbreak. The company’s leadership, our crisis management and business resumption teams, and local site leadership continue closely to monitor and address the developments, including the impact on our company, our employees, our customers, our suppliers and our communities. The company has considered and continues to consider guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), other health organizations, federal, state and local governmental authorities, and our customers, among others. We have taken, and continue to take, robust actions to help protect the health, safety and well-being of our employees, to support our suppliers and local communities, and to continue to serve our customers. Our goals have been to lessen the immediate potential adverse impacts, both health and economic, and to continue to position the company for long-term success. Like the communities in which we serve, our actions have varied depending on the spread of COVID-19 and local health requirements, the needs of our employees and the needs of our business. Among other actions, we have required or enabled employees to work from home or remotely where practicable, and expanded IT and communication support to enhance their productivity; adjusted work spaces and shift schedules to facilitate social distancing for those who continue to work in our facilities; enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures at our facilities; required face coverings and worked

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to procure and distribute personal protective equipment (PPE); implemented health checks and visitor protocols; restricted travel; provided additional benefits to our employees, including for those most at risk; and contributed financial and manufacturing resources to supporting critical national requirements, such as for PPE. Along with the Northrop Grumman Foundation, we have provided grants for global, national and local organizations that support frontline healthcare workers, address food insecurity, advance efforts for vaccines, increase student access to technology and provide support to vulnerable populations; donated PPE items to emergency response teams and healthcare professionals, including N95 masks and Tyvek suits; and established a COVID-19 relief matching gift program for employees. More recently, we have sought to assist state and local governments as they start to distribute and deliver vaccines.

Earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic and at times of higher transmission, many state and local jurisdictions implemented mandatory stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders. Most of those orders exempted some or all of the defense industrial base, including Northrop Grumman and many of our suppliers, as part of the essential or critical infrastructure. Our facilities have largely remained open and many of our employees who cannot work remotely are continuing to come to work and support our customers’ national security and mission-essential operations. Towards the end of the second quarter of 2020, some state and local jurisdictions started to lift mandatory stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders and started gradually to ease restrictions. We started to implement, or prepared to implement certain return to office plans to allow some employees who had been working remotely gradually to return to the workplace. Later in 2020, as the number of cases began to rise again, and particularly in the fourth quarter of 2020, we paused or reversed many of our efforts to bring more employees back to the work place. In the fourth quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021, after FDA approval, we began to explore how the company could best facilitate the provision of vaccinations to our personnel in accordance with federal guidance and state and local vaccination plans. Absenteeism rates (including because of employees in quarantine or those suffering from COVID-19) and the impacts on produc

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EQUITY RISK

We are exposed to market risk with respect to our portfolio of marketable securities with a fair value of $396 million at December 31, 2020. These securities are exposed to market volatilities, changes in price and interest rates.

INTEREST RATE RISK

We are exposed to interest rate risk on variable-rate short-term credit facilities for which there were no borrowings outstanding at December 31, 2020. At December 31, 2020, we have $15.0 billion of long-term debt, primarily consisting of fixed-rate debt, with a fair value of approximately $18.2 billion. The terms of our fixed-rate debt obligations do not generally allow investors to demand payment of these obligations prior to maturity. Therefore, we do not have significant exposure to interest rate risk for our fixed-rate debt; however, we do have exposure to fair value risk if we repurchase or exchange long-term debt prior to maturity.

FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK

In certain circumstances, we are exposed to foreign currency risk. We enter into foreign currency forward contracts to manage a portion of the exchange rate risk related to receipts from customers and payments to suppliers denominated in foreign currencies. We do not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. At December 31, 2020, foreign currency forward contracts with a notional amount of $133 million were outstanding. At December 31, 2020, a 10 percent unfavorable foreign exchange rate movement would not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, annual results of operations and/or cash flows.

INFLATION RISK

We have generally been able to anticipate increases in costs when pricing our contracts. Bids for longer-term firm fixed-price contracts typically include assumptions for labor and other cost escalations in amounts that historically have been sufficient to cover cost increases over the period of performance.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Falls Church, Virginia

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of Northrop Grumman Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of earnings and comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated January 27, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Change in Accounting Principle

The Company changed its method of accounting for leases in 2019 due to the adoption of ASC 842, Leases.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Revenue Recognition - Cost and Revenue Estimates for Development Contracts - Refer to Note 1 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

As more fully described in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company recognizes substantially all revenue as control is transferred to the customer on their long-term contracts over time using the cost-to-cost method (cost incurred relative to total cost estimated at completion). Use of the cost-to-cost-method requires the Company to make reasonably dependable estimates regarding the revenue and costs associated with the design, manufacture and

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delivery of their products or services. The Company estimates profit on these contracts as the difference between total estimated sales and total estimated costs at completion and recognizes that profit as costs are incurred. Cost estimates on contracts requiring development work are inherently more uncertain as to future events than production contracts, and, as a result, there is typically more variability in those estimates. Certain of these contracts are fixed price in nature, which results in greater financial risk associated with unanticipated cost growth. Alternatively, cost-type contracts may have award or incentive fees that are subject to uncertainty and may be earned over extended periods or towards the end of the contract. As a result, the estimation of costs required to complete these contracts and the expected revenues that will be earned is complex and requires significant judgment.

Given the judgment necessary to make reasonably dependable estimates regarding the revenue and costs associated with such contracts, auditing these estimates required extensive audit effort due to the complexity of the underlying programs and a high degree of auditor judgment when performing audit procedures and evaluating the results of those procedures.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our auditing procedures related to the cost and revenue estimates for these development contracts included the following, among others:

• We tested the effectiveness of controls over the estimates of total costs and revenues on such contracts, including development costs and any related award or incentive fee estimates for the relevant performance obligations.

• We selected certain long-term contracts for testing and performed the following procedures:

–Evaluated whether the recognition of revenue over time on such contracts was appropriate based on the terms and conditions of each contract, including whether continuous transfer of control to the customer occurred as progress was made toward fulfilling the performance obligation.

–Tested management’s identification of distinct performance obligations by evaluating whether the underlying goods and services were highly interdependent and interrelated.

–Tested management’s determination of the transaction price, including any award or incentive fees, based on the consideration expected to be received in accordance with the rights and obligations established under the contracts and any contractual modifications.

–Evaluated the estimates of total cost and revenue for the performance obligation by:

▪Conducting inquiries at the relevant program locations, or virtually, (as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and remote working environment) regarding any challenges related to the program.

▪Comparing costs incurred to date to the costs management estimated to be incurred to date.

▪Evaluating management’s ability to achieve the estimates of total cost and revenue by performing corroborating inquiries with the Company’s program and business management, and testing management’s process used to develop the estimates based on their work plans, engineering specifications, program labor, and supplier contracts. This includes management’s process to identify COVID-19 impacts to programs, which could include forecasted cost impacts and assumptions on the ability to recover those costs.

▪Comparing management’s estimates for the selected contracts to costs and revenues of similar performance obligations, when applicable.

–Tested the mathematical accuracy of management’s calculation of revenue recognized during the

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None.

DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Our principal executive officer (Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President) and principal financial officer (Corporate Vice President and Chief Financial Officer) have evaluated the company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act)) as of December 31, 2020, and have concluded that these controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. These disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit is accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

During the three months ended December 31, 2020, no change occurred in our internal control over financial reporting that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

None.

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MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

The management of Northrop Grumman Corporation (the company) prepared and is responsible for the consolidated financial statements and all related financial information contained in this Annual Report. This responsibility includes establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting. The company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

To comply with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, the company designed and implemented a structured and comprehensive assessment process to evaluate its internal control over financial reporting across the enterprise. The assessment of the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting is based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Because of its inherent limitations, a system of internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance and may not prevent or detect misstatements. Management regularly monitors its internal control over financial reporting, and actions are taken to correct deficiencies as they are identified. Based on its assessment, management has concluded that the company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2020.

Deloitte & Touche LLP issued an attestation report dated January 27, 2021, concerning the company’s internal control over financial reporting, which is contained in this Annual Report. The company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020, have been audited by the independent registered public accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).

/s/ Kathy J. Warden

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President

/s/ David F. Keffer

Corporate Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

January 27, 2021

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Falls Church, Virginia

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Northrop Grumman Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020 of the Company and our report dated January 27, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

McLean, Virginia

January 27, 2021

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NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

PART III

DIRECTORS

Information about our Directors will be incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) within 120 days after the end of the company’s fiscal year.

INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Our executive officers as of January 27, 2021, are listed below, along with their ages on that date, positions and offices held with the company, and principal occupations and employment, focused primarily on the past five years.

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AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

The information as to the Audit and Risk Committee and the Audit and Risk Committee Financial Expert will be incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

CODE OF ETHICS

We have adopted Standards of Business Conduct for all of our employees, including the principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. The Standards of Business Conduct can be found on our internet website at www.northropgrumman.com under “Investors – Corporate Governance – Standards of Business Conduct.” A copy of the Standards of Business Conduct is available to any stockholder who requests it by writing to: Northrop Grumman Corporation, c/o Office of the Secretary, 2980 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church, VA 22042. We disclose amendments to provisions of our Standards of Business Conduct by posting amendments on our website. Waivers of the provisions of our Standards of Business Conduct that apply to our directors and executive officers are disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K.

The website and information contained on it or incorporated in it are not intended to be incorporated in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or other filings with the SEC.

OTHER DISCLOSURES

Other disclosures required by this Item will be incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Information concerning Executive Compensation, including information concerning Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation and the Compensation Committee Report, will be incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

The information as to Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans and Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management will be incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

For a description of securities authorized under our equity compensation plans, see Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements.

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NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

The information as to Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence will be incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

The information as to Principal Accounting Fees and Services will be incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

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NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

PART IV

(a)1. Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Financial Statements

Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2. Financial Statement Schedules

All schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable, not required, or the information has been otherwise supplied in the consolidated financial statements or notes to the consolidated financial statements.

3. Exhibits

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NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

None.

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NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 27th day of January 2021.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed on behalf of the registrant this the 27th day of January 2021, by the following persons and in the capacities indicated.

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