USMC receives AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR
The US Marine Corps has officially taken delivery of the first factory built model of the AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) from Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems.
G/ATOR is an air cooled, mobile, Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar that is lighter and more transportable than AESA radars that use liquid cooling. It provides multi-faceted detection and tracking of a wide range of hostile threats, as well as air traffic control capabilities.
The system is replacing five existing single-mission radars used by the USMC, and is expected to bring significant new capabilities to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF).
Col Matthew Culbertson, Headquarters Marine Corps Department of Aviation, USMC, said: 'What it really provides us is a modern sensor, that has great agility, that we can employ from the high end fight down to the Marine Expeditionary Unit level, and when you combine this with everything else that the MAGTF is doing in order to become a fifth generation MAGTF, it sort of brings it all together.'
G/ATOR was approved for production in 2014 and began low-rate initial production the following year. The marine corps intends to field a total 45 units to support the Aviation Combat Element as well as the artillery units with the Ground Combat Element. The final operational capability, when the last unit is delivered, is scheduled for early 2024.
More from Digital Battlespace
-
British Army’s ISR commander warns of new challenges facing defence forces
The race between using ISR and resisting the use of it by enemies has accelerated, leading to new methods and systems being required, according to the British Army’s lead on its ISR efforts.
-
Jacobs wins MoD cyber-security support contract
The deal with Jacobs will run until November 2027 and will see the company deliver a range of digital and IT specialist professional services to Defence Digital.
-
Orbit upgrades two multi-purpose terminals and carries out land testing
The communications company has upgraded two of its Beyond Line-of-Sight Multi-Purpose Terminals (MBTs) by introducing advancements in satellite communication technology and AI-driven maintenance capabilities.
-
Norway to receive maritime surveillance satellite data from Kongsberg
Norway's Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace has announced that its subsidiary Kongsberg NanoAvionics will produce three satellites and launch them in 2025.
-
First South Korean 425 Project observation satellite launched
In 2015, South Korea named a consortium of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Hanwha Systems, along with Thales Alenia Space providing the SAR payload derived from its HE-R1000 product, as preferred bidder to develop new Korea 425 Project reconnaissance satellites.