Commitments and Contingencies (Unaudited)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

U.S. Government Cost Claims and Contingencies

From time to time, the company is advised of claims by the U.S. government concerning certain potential disallowed costs, plus, at times, penalties and interest. When such findings are presented, the company and U.S. government representatives engage in discussions to enable the company to evaluate the merits of these claims, as well as to assess the amounts being claimed. Where appropriate, provisions are made to reflect the company’s estimated exposure for such potential disallowed costs. Such provisions are reviewed periodically using the most recent information available. The company believes it has adequately reserved for disputed amounts that are probable and reasonably estimable, and that the outcome of any such matters would not have a material adverse effect on its unaudited condensed consolidated financial position as of March 31, 2023, or its annual results of operations and/or cash flows.

In 2019, the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) raised questions about an interest rate assumption used by the company to determine our CAS pension expense. On June 1, 2020, DCMA provided written notice that the assumptions the company used during the period 2013-2019 were potentially noncompliant with CAS. We submitted a formal response on July 31, 2020, which we believed demonstrates the appropriateness of the assumptions used. On November 24, 2020, DCMA replied to the company’s response, disagreeing with our position and requesting additional input, which we provided on February 22, 2021. We have continued to exchange correspondence and engage with DCMA and DoD on this matter, including responding to requests for and providing additional information. As noted in Note 5 above, the company received from the the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) a criminal subpoena on December 9, 2022 and a civil investigative demand on February 2, 2023, both seeking information that appears related to the interest rate assumptions at issue in our discussions with DCMA. The company is engaging with the government and responding to the requests. We cannot at this point predict the outcome of this matter. The company is also continuing to engage with DCMA/DoD. As previously described, the sensitivity to changes in interest rate assumptions makes it reasonably possible the outcome of the DCMA matter could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows, although we are not currently able to estimate a range of any potential loss.

B-21 Low-Rate Initial Production Options

In 2015, the U.S. Air Force awarded to Northrop Grumman the B-21 contract, including a base contract for engineering, manufacturing, and design (EMD) and five low-rate initial production (LRIP) options. The EMD phase of the program is largely cost type and began at contract award. The LRIP options are largely fixed price and are expected to be awarded and executed over the next decade. In the first quarter of 2023, we reviewed our estimated cost to complete the LRIP phase of the B-21 program. Principally due to the company’s estimate of the impact macroeconomic factors may have on our cost to complete the LRIP options, as well as ongoing discussions with our suppliers and our customer, we continue to believe it is reasonably possible one or more of the LRIP options could be performed at a loss and the range of such loss across the five LRIP options is between $0 and $1.2 billion. As we

do not currently believe a loss is probable on any of the LRIP options, we have not recognized any such loss in our financial results for the period ended March 31, 2023.

Environmental Matters

The table below summarizes the amount accrued for environmental remediation costs, management’s estimate of the amount of reasonably possible future costs in excess of accrued costs and the deferred costs expected to be recoverable through overhead charges on U.S. government contracts as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022:


$ in millions	Accrued Costs(1)(2)		Reasonably Possible Future Costs in Excess of Accrued Costs(2)		Deferred Costs(3)
March 31, 2023	$	570	$	357	$	498
December 31, 2022	565		353		486

(1) As of March 31, 2023, $200 million is recorded in Other current liabilities and $370 million is recorded in Other non-current liabilities.

(2) Estimated remediation costs are not discounted to present value. The reasonably possible future costs in excess of accrued costs do not take into consideration amounts expected to be recoverable through overhead charges on U.S. government contracts.

(3) As of March 31, 2023, $181 million is deferred in Prepaid expenses and other current assets and $317 million is deferred in Other non-current assets. These amounts are evaluated for recoverability on a routine basis.

Although management cannot predict whether (i) new information gained as our environmental remediation projects progress, (ii) changes in remediation standards or other requirements to which we are subject, or (iii) other changes in facts and circumstances will materially affect the estimated liability accrued, we do not anticipate that future remediation expenditures associated with our currently identified projects will have a material adverse effect on the company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial position as of March 31, 2023, or its annual results of operations and/or cash flows.

Financial Arrangements

In the ordinary course of business, the company uses standby letters of credit and guarantees issued by commercial banks and surety bonds issued principally by insurance companies to guarantee the performance on certain obligations. At March 31, 2023, there were $367 million of stand-by letters of credit and guarantees and $79 million of surety bonds outstanding.

Commercial Paper

The company maintains a commercial paper program that serves as a source of short-term financing with capacity to issue unsecured commercial paper notes up to $2.5 billion. At March 31, 2023, there were no commercial paper borrowings outstanding.

Credit Facilities

The company maintains a five-year senior unsecured credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $2.5 billion (the “2022 Credit Agreement”) that matures in August 2027 and is intended to support the company's commercial paper program and other general corporate purposes. Commercial paper borrowings reduce the amount available for borrowing under the 2022 Credit Agreement. At March 31, 2023, there were no borrowings outstanding under this facility.

The 2022 Credit Agreement contains generally customary terms and conditions, including covenants restricting the company’s ability to sell all or substantially all of its assets, merge or consolidate with another entity or undertake other fundamental changes and incur liens. The company also cannot permit the ratio of its debt to capitalization (as set forth in the credit agreement) to exceed 65 percent.

At March 31, 2023, the company was in compliance with all covenants under its credit agreements.