Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (NGSC) settled allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by overstating the number of hours its employees worked on two battlefield communications contracts with the U.S. Air Force. The government accused NGSC of billing the Air Force for labor hours purportedly incurred between July 1, 2010, and December 31, 2013, by individuals stationed in the Middle East who had not actually worked the hours claimed. Under the settlement, NGSC made no admission of liability or wrongdoing and agreed to pay a total of $27.45 million. NGSC simultaneously settled a criminal investigation into the matter (see Northrop Grumman instance, “Air Force Battlefield Communications Contracts False Claims – Criminal Settlement”).