USMC orders nine more G/ATORs
Northrop Grumman has received an order from the US Marine Corps (USMC) for another nine AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) low rate initial production (LRIP) systems, the company announced on 6 September.
The systems incorporate advanced Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, which offers performance benefits including higher output power, higher efficiency and lower input power needs. Higher output power can increase threat detection and tracking ranges for all four G/ATOR mission capabilities: weapon cueing, air surveillance, air traffic control and counter-fire target acquisition.
Northrop Grumman already has a contract to provide six G/ATOR LRIP systems, the first of which will be delivered in February 2017.
Roshan Roeder, director, mission solutions, Northrop Grumman, said: 'There are no other GaN ground-based active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars in production today. G/ATOR is the first DoD ground-based AESA system to incorporate GaN in a production programme.
'We proposed this technology as a cost savings measure for the government and funded risk reduction internally to ensure a seamless insertion into the G/ATOR system. We are continuing to look at future technology insertions to continue providing the best capability out there to our warfighters at an affordable cost.'
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Digital Battlespace
-
UK teases cyber spending boost in Strategic Defence Review ahead of “imminent” release
The release of the UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) has been long promised as mid-year. It is possible it could be as early as 2 June although the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) continues to play its cards close to its chest.
-
Intelsat emphasises SATCOM resilience for SOF in contested domains (video)
Intelsat outlines how its multi-orbit SATCOM architecture is enhancing connectivity and resilience for special operations forces operating in degraded and contested environments.
-
US Space Force’s next-generation missile warning system moves forward with $500 million in new contracts
Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) satellites are intended to provide early warning of missile launches from any location worldwide and new ground stations will result in expanded coverage of critical missile warning.
-
Airbus launches final CSO observation satellite for French Armed Forces
Airbus was awarded the Composante Spatiale Optique (CSO) contract at the end of 2010. This included an option for a third satellite, which was activated after Germany joined the programme in 2015.
-
Intelligence advantage: How real-time GEOINT is reshaping military decision-making (Studio)
In today’s contested operational environment, adaptability is key. The new Geospatial-Intelligence as a Service (GEO IaaS) solution from Fujitsu and MAIAR empowers militaries by enabling intelligence advantage, combining advanced technology with human expertise to deliver actionable insights.