G/ATOR Block 2 roll out continues
The US Marine Corps has commenced fielding of Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) Block 2 radar systems to artillery units at 11th Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton, California.
G/ATOR is an expeditionary, three-dimensional medium-range radar system, which is being developed and fielded in three blocks that will support the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) across the range of its capabilities.
Block 1 - already being fielded - provides air defence and surveillance capabilities; Block 2 supports MAGTF counter-fire and counterbattery missions; and Block 4, a future iteration, will provide expeditionary airport surveillance radar capabilities.
The first set of G/ATOR Block 1s, customised for air defence and air surveillance, were fielded in 2018 to Marine Air Control Squadrons 1 and 2 in Yuma, Arizona, and Cherry Point, North Carolina.
G/ATOR combines the capabilities previously provided by five different legacy radars. G/ATOR Block 2 provides ground weapon-locating capabilities for counter battery and counter-fire missions, replacing the AN/TPQ-46 fire-finder ground weapons locating radar. It also provides enhanced capabilities to locate and identify indirect fire weapons, such as mortars, artillery and rockets.
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