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Retirement Benefits
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Retirement Benefits
12. RETIREMENT BENEFITS
Plan Descriptions
U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plans – The company sponsors several defined benefit pension plans in the U.S. Pension benefits for most participants are based on years of service, age and compensation. It is our policy to fund at least the minimum amount required for qualified plans, using actuarial cost methods and assumptions acceptable under U.S. government regulations, by making payments into benefit trusts separate from the company.
U.S. Defined Contribution Plans – The company also sponsors defined contribution plans covering the majority of its employees, including certain employees covered under collective bargaining agreements. Company contributions vary depending on date of hire, with a majority of employees being eligible for employer matching of employee contributions. Based on date of hire, certain employees are eligible to receive a company non-elective contribution or an enhanced matching contribution in lieu of a defined benefit pension plan benefit. The company’s contributions to these defined contribution plans for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, were $657 million, $634 million and $558 million, respectively.
Non-U.S. Benefit Plans – The company sponsors several benefit plans for non-U.S. employees. These plans are designed to provide benefits appropriate to local practice and in accordance with local regulations. Some of these plans are funded using benefit trusts separate from the company.
Medical and Life Benefits – The company funds a portion of the costs for certain health care and life insurance benefits for a substantial number of its active and retired employees. In addition to a company and employee cost-sharing feature, the health plans also have provisions for deductibles, co-payments, coinsurance percentages, out-of-pocket limits, conformance to a schedule of reasonable fees, the use of managed care providers and coordination of benefits with other plans. The plans also provide for a Medicare carve-out. The company reserves the right to amend or terminate the plans at any time.
Certain covered employees and dependents are eligible to participate in plans upon retirement if they meet specified age and years of service requirements. The company provides subsidies to reimburse certain retirees for a portion of the cost of individual Medicare-supplemental coverage purchased directly by the retiree through a private insurance exchange. The company has capped the amount of its contributions for substantially all its remaining postretirement medical and life benefit plans. In addition, after January 1, 2005 (or earlier at some businesses), newly hired employees are not eligible for subsidized postretirement medical and life benefits.
Summary Plan Results
The cost to the company of its retirement benefit plans is shown in the following table:
 Year Ended December 31
 Pension BenefitsMedical and Life Benefits
$ in millions202420232022202420232022
Components of net periodic benefit cost (benefit)
Service cost$239 $236 $367 $4 $5 $9 
Interest cost1,526 1,568 1,136 62 67 47 
Expected return on plan assets(2,197)(2,098)(2,641)(87)(85)(110)
Amortization of prior service credit— — — — (1)(1)
Mark-to-market (benefit) expense(450)442 (1,262)7 (20)30 
Other15 — — — — — 
Net periodic benefit cost (benefit)$(867)$148 $(2,400)$(14)$(34)$(25)
The table below summarizes the changes in unamortized prior service credit for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2023 and 2024:
$ in millionsPension BenefitsMedical and Life BenefitsTotal
Changes in unamortized prior service credit
Amortization of prior service credit$— $1 $1 
Tax expense— — — 
Decrease (increase) in unamortized prior service credit – 2022— 1 1 
Amortization of prior service credit— 1 1 
Tax expense— — — 
Decrease (increase) in unamortized prior service credit – 2023— 1 1 
(Increase) decrease in prior service credit— (12)(12)
Amortization of prior service credit— — — 
Tax expense— 3 3 
(Increase) decrease in unamortized prior service credit – 2024$— $(9)$(9)
The following table sets forth the funded status and amounts recognized in the consolidated statements of financial position for the company’s defined benefit retirement plans. Pension benefits data includes the qualified plans, foreign plans and U.S. unfunded non-qualified plans for benefits provided to directors, officers and certain employees. The company uses a December 31 measurement date for its plans.
 Pension BenefitsMedical and Life Benefits
$ in millions2024202320242023
Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year$30,251 $28,920 $1,274 $1,226 
Net gain on plan assets1,358 3,104 61 146 
Employer contributions96 105 33 34 
Participant contributions6 6 26 27 
Benefits paid(1,942)(1,894)(157)(159)
Other— 10 — — 
Fair value of plan assets at end of year29,769 30,251 1,237 1,274 
Projected Benefit Obligation
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year30,443 29,067 1,246 1,264 
Service cost239 236 4 5 
Interest cost1,526 1,568 62 67 
Participant contributions6 6 26 27 
Actuarial (gain) loss(1,295)1,447 (19)42 
Benefits paid(1,942)(1,894)(157)(159)
Other15 13 (12)— 
Projected benefit obligation at end of year28,992 30,443 1,150 1,246 
Funded status$777 $(192)$87 $28 
The decrease in the fair value of plan assets for the year ended December 31, 2024 was principally driven by $2.1 billion of benefit payments, partially offset by net returns on plan assets of 4.7 percent. The decrease in our projected benefit obligation for the year ended December 31, 2024, was primarily driven by $2.1 billion of benefit payments and a 58 basis point increase in the discount rate from year end 2023, partially offset by $1.6 billion of interest cost.
Pension BenefitsMedical and Life Benefits
$ in millions2024202320242023
Classification of amounts recognized in the consolidated statements of financial position
Non-current assets$1,851 $1,042 $333 $289 
Current liability(177)(178)(23)(27)
Non-current liability(897)(1,056)(223)(234)
The accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit pension plans was $28.7 billion and $30.1 billion at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Amounts for pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of fair value of plan assets are as follows:
 December 31
$ in millions20242023
Projected benefit obligation$1,076 $1,152 
Accumulated benefit obligation1,066 1,143 
Fair value of plan assets3 3 
Plan Assumptions
On a weighted-average basis, the following assumptions were used to determine benefit obligations at December 31 of each year and net periodic benefit cost for the following year:
 Pension BenefitsMedical and Life Benefits

202420232022202420232022
Discount rate5.73 %5.15 %5.54 %5.69 %5.20 %5.57 %
Expected long-term return on plan assets7.50 %7.50 %7.50 %7.08 %7.12 %7.23 %
Initial cash balance crediting rate assumed for the next year4.78 %4.02 %3.96 %
Rate to which the cash balance crediting rate is assumed to increase/decrease (the ultimate rate)4.90 %4.02 %3.88 %
Year that the cash balance crediting rate reaches the ultimate rate203020292028
Rate of compensation increase3.00 %3.00 %3.00 %
Initial health care cost trend rate assumed for the next year5.90 %6.20 %6.50 %
Rate to which the health care cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate)5.00 %5.00 %5.00 %
Year that the health care cost trend rate reaches the ultimate trend rate202820282028
Plan Assets and Investment Policy
Plan assets are invested in various asset classes that are expected to produce a sufficient level of diversification and investment return over the long term. Liability studies are conducted on a regular basis to provide guidance in setting investment goals with an objective to balance risk. Risk targets are established and monitored against acceptable ranges.
Our investment policies and procedures are designed to ensure the plans’ investments comply with ERISA. Guidelines are established defining permitted investments within each asset class. Derivatives are used for transitioning assets, asset class rebalancing, managing currency risk and for management of fixed-income and alternative investments.
For the majority of the plans’ assets, the investment policies require that the asset allocation be maintained within the following ranges as of December 31, 2024:
Asset Allocation Ranges
Cash and cash equivalents
0% - 12%
Global public equities
18% - 38%
Fixed-income securities
35% - 55%
Alternative investments
10% - 30%
Private credit
0% - 15%
The table below provides the fair values of the company’s pension and Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association (VEBA) trust plan assets at December 31, 2024 and 2023, by asset category. The table also identifies the level of inputs used to determine the fair value of assets in each category. See Note 1 for the definitions of these levels. Certain investments that are measured at fair value using NAV per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient are not required to be categorized in the fair value hierarchy table. The total fair value of these investments is included in the table below to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to amounts presented in the funded status table. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, there were no investments expected to be sold at a value materially different than NAV.
 Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
$ in millions20242023202420232024202320242023
Asset category
Cash and cash equivalents$223 $85 $751 $830 $974 $915 
U.S. equities1,824 1,712 — 1 1,824 1,713 
International equities1,570 1,506 1,570 1,506 
Fixed-income securities
U.S. Treasuries17 — 3,520 3,890 3,537 3,890 
U.S. Government Agency97 124 97 124 
Non-U.S. Government1 — 282 176 283 176 
Corporate debt79 74 3,664 4,432 3,743 4,506 
Asset backed1,301 436 1,301 436 
High yield debt12 13 20 20 32 33 
Bank loans16 15 16 15 
Derivatives and other assets(55)64 99 43 $2 $2 46 109 
Investments valued using NAV as a practical expedient
U.S. equities1,486 1,294 
International equities4,071 3,972 
Fixed-income funds3,559 4,057 
Hedge funds32 38 
Opportunistic investments1,816 3,176 
Private equity funds3,521 3,466 
Real estate funds1,860 2,123 
Private credit1,779 — 
Payables, net(541)(24)
Fair value of plan assets at the end of the year$3,671 $3,454 $9,750 $9,967 $2 $2 $31,006 $31,525 
There were no transfers of plan assets into or out of Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Generally, investments are valued based on information in financial publications of general circulation, statistical and valuation services, records of security exchanges, appraisal by qualified persons, transactions and bona fide offers. Cash and cash equivalents are predominantly held in money market or short-term investment funds. U.S. and international equities consist primarily of common stocks and institutional common trust funds. Investments in certain equity securities, which include domestic and international securities and registered investment companies, and exchange-traded funds with fixed income strategies are valued at the last reported sales or quoted price on the last business day of the reporting period. Fair values for certain fixed-income securities, which are not exchange-traded, are valued using third-party pricing services.
Derivatives and other assets include derivative assets with a fair value of $107 million and $172 million, derivative liabilities with a fair value of $123 million and $101 million, and net notional amounts of $9.2 billion and $4.9 billion, as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Derivative instruments may include exchange traded futures contracts, interest rate swaps, options on futures and swaps, currency contracts, total return swaps and credit default swaps. Notional amounts do not quantify risk or represent assets or liabilities of the pension and VEBA trusts, but are used in the calculation of cash settlement under the contracts. Certain derivative financial instruments within the pension trust are subject to master netting agreements with certain counterparties.
Investments in certain equity and fixed-income funds, which include common/collective trust funds, and alternative investments, including hedge funds, opportunistic investments, private equity funds and real estate funds, are valued based on the NAV derived by the investment managers, as a practical expedient, and are described further below.
U.S. and International equities: Generally, redemption periods are daily, monthly or quarterly with a notice requirement less than 90 days. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, there were no unfunded commitments.
Fixed-income funds: Generally, redemption periods are daily, monthly or quarterly with a notice requirement of two days. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023 there were no unfunded commitments.
Hedge funds: Consist of closed-end funds with a 5-10 year life as well as funds that allow redemption requests subject to the liquidity limitations of the underlying investments. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, unfunded commitments were $6 million.
Opportunistic investments: Consist of closed-end funds with a 5-10 year life as well as funds that allow redemption requests subject to the liquidity limitations of the underlying investments. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, unfunded commitments were $1.3 billion and $1.6 billion, respectively.
Private equity funds: The term of each fund is typically 10 or more years and the fund’s investors do not have an option to redeem their interest in the fund. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, unfunded commitments were $1.6 billion and $1.9 billion, respectively.
Real estate funds: Consist primarily of open-end funds that generally allow investors to redeem their interests in the funds. Certain closed-end real estate funds have terms of 10 or more years. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, unfunded commitments were $24 million and $28 million, respectively.
Private credit: Consist of closed-end funds with a 5-10 year life as well as funds that allow redemption requests subject to the liquidity limitations of the underlying investments. As of December 31, 2024, unfunded commitments were $721 million.
At December 31, 2024 and 2023, the defined benefit pension trust held $1 million and $0, respectively, of Northrop Grumman common stock. At December 31, 2024 and 2023, the VEBA trust did not hold any Northrop Grumman common stock.
Benefit Payments
The following table reflects estimated future benefit payments for the next ten years, based upon the same assumptions used to measure the benefit obligation, and includes expected future employee service, as of December 31, 2024:
$ in millionsPension PlansMedical and Life PlansTotal
Year Ending December 31
2025$2,058 $111 $2,169 
20262,101 112 2,213 
20272,138 111 2,249 
20282,164 109 2,273 
20292,183 106 2,289 
2030 through 203410,909 473 11,382 
In 2025, the company expects to contribute the required minimum funding of approximately $94 million to its pension plans and approximately $33 million to its medical and life benefit plans. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the company made no discretionary pension contributions.