The Antelope Valley builds and tests aircraft that very few places in the world can. Northrop Grumman carries out final assembly of the B-21 Raider at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works flew the X-59 from Palmdale in October 2025, and Edwards Air Force Base tests what comes off the line. GERC gets the suppliers around them registered, certified, CMMC-ready and bidding.
AV EDGE, the region’s economic development organization, estimates that Plant 42 supports around 18,000 jobs and Edwards around 12,000. Its 2026 regional report lists Northrop Grumman with more than 7,000 local employees and Lockheed Martin with more than 5,000.
Why the supply chain matters here
Northrop says the B-21 program draws on more than 400 suppliers in 40 states, and the Air Force has funded a production expansion on Northrop’s Palmdale campus and at some Tier 1 supplier locations. The same plant builds F-35 center fuselages, where Northrop delivered its 1,600th in 2026, and supports Global Hawk, Triton and the B-2.
Programs of that size need machining, composites, fasteners, tooling, test support, facilities work, logistics and staffing close to the plant. The City of Palmdale runs an aerospace incentive program to bring suppliers closer, and its first recipient, precision component maker AS Aerospace, broke ground in October 2025 on a 90,000 square foot facility after moving from Santa Clarita.
The wider test and research corridor
- Edwards Air Force Base. Home of the 412th Test Wing and NASA Armstrong, and where B-21 test aircraft now fly.
- Mojave Air & Space Port. Tenants include Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, Scaled Composites, Stratolaunch and the National Test Pilot School.
- NAWS China Lake. About 1.1 million acres near Ridgecrest, holding around 85% of the Navy’s land for research and testing, with around $4 billion invested in rebuilding after the 2019 earthquakes.
Why cyber compliance comes first
Programs like these handle a great deal of Controlled Unclassified Information. If your firm will see drawings, specifications or program data, the requirement reaches you through the prime’s flow-down clauses.
- NIST SP 800-171 is the foundation. A System Security Plan and a POA&M documenting your gaps, with a score submitted to SPRS.
- Primes check before they award. A missing or weak SPRS score can remove you before price is discussed.
- It takes months, not weeks. See our NIST 800-171 and CMMC readiness page.
What we do for Antelope Valley firms
- Readiness review. Where you stand on registrations, certifications and cyber, and the order to fix them in.
- Registration. SAM.gov, UEI and entity validation, CAGE code, and DLA DIBBS with JCP for controlled drawings.
- Certification. SB, SB-PW, DVBE, 8(a) and HUBZone where you qualify, plus California SB for state work.
- Bidding. A capability statement written for defense buyers, proposals, and SBIR and STTR applications.
We serve Palmdale, Lancaster, Quartz Hill, Acton, Lake Los Angeles, Rosamond, Mojave, California City, Tehachapi, Boron and Ridgecrest.
Common questions
Can a small Antelope Valley company become a supplier on the B-21 or F-35?
Usually as a subcontractor or supplier to Northrop Grumman or one of its Tier 1 suppliers, rather than directly with the Air Force. Primes expect SAM.gov registration, a CAGE code, quality certifications such as AS9100 for hardware, and an SPRS score where you handle controlled information.
Do we need CMMC to work on programs at Plant 42?
If your work involves Federal Contract Information or Controlled Unclassified Information, yes: the requirement flows down from the prime. The starting point is NIST SP 800-171, a System Security Plan and a score submitted to SPRS.
Is there free help in the Antelope Valley?
Yes. The Los Angeles County APEX Accelerator and the Small Business Development Center network, including a partner site at the University of Antelope Valley in Lancaster, offer free counseling. We work alongside them when a firm needs the documents prepared and filed for it.
How long before we can bid?
SAM.gov registration and a CAGE code usually take weeks. Certifications take longer, and NIST SP 800-171 readiness can take months. A readiness review first stops you doing them in the wrong order.
Do you meet in person?
When it helps. We are based in San Bernardino and travel for kickoffs, proposal reviews and board presentations. Most of the work runs remotely.
Schedule a Consultation
- Call (909) 454-7076 — the fastest route. Monday to Friday.
- Book a consultation — pick a time that suits you.
- Email us about Palmdale and Lancaster — opens a message already titled, so it reaches the right person.
If you only want to know whether you need this at all, ask. There is no charge for that conversation.
GERC is a woman-led advisory firm led by Dr. Shirley Ayangbah, a PhD legal economist with more than 14 years of experience. Registered in SAM.gov under CAGE code 11SD2, certified as a California Small Business (Micro) and for Public Works. NAICS 541611, 541618 and 541690.