Northrop to add GWLR mode to G/ATOR
The US Marine Corps has awarded a contract to Northrop Grumman to develop and test the Ground Weapon Locating Radar (GWLR) mode for the AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar (G/ATOR), the company announced on 12 October.
The contract is valued at around $59 million.
The GWLR mode is a software update, which brings additional mission capability to the Department of Defense’s ground-based multi-mission Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. The software enables the same radar hardware to operate in four different modes, switching between air surveillance, air defense, ground weapon locating, and air traffic control as required by the operator.
G/ATOR will be able to detect and track time-critical incoming threats such as rockets, mortars and artillery rounds using GWLR mode. Once the incoming threats are detected by the radar, the system rapidly analyses their ballistic trajectories and computes their impact points to enable rapid and accurate threat engagement by counterfire forces.
Roshan Roeder, director, ground based tactical radars, land and self-protection systems division, Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, said: ‘Inserting this capability into G/ATOR is an important step toward providing the marines with a highly capable and highly versatile system.
'Using an open architecture approach, we're bringing together the best of technology and design experience from ground and airborne applications to create a system that seamlessly facilitates capability upgrades and the insertion of emerging technologies.’
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
Europe’s air defence boosted by more IRIS-T SLM system orders
The IRIS-T (InfraRed Imaging System - Tail/thrust vector-controlled) SLM (Surface Launched Medium-Range) is a surface-to-air missile system has been developed by Diehl Defence. The system is a key part of the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) and have been purchased by Sweden for this role.
-
Poland signs US$6.7 billion deal for more K2 tanks and aims for new industrial capability
The Polish Government sees the latest contract as a big step towards an indigenous capability while also further transitioning from Russian-designed tanks to NATO compliant force.
-
IDEF 2025: Turkey’s MKE unveils electric armoured vehicles
MKE’s move into the development of armoured vehicles and turret is a new line for MKE. The company is not only the largest contractor for small arms and ammunition in Tukey but are also prime contractor for artillery and tank barrels as well as the Bora 105mm towed howitzer.
-
Leonardo acquires Iveco Defence in $1.9 billion deal
The acquisition will help consolidate Leonardo’s position in the European land defence sector, aiding it in efforts to boost its domain “interoperability vision”, according to Leonardo’s CEO.
-
US orders more Humvees after Israeli contract, boosting vehicle’s prospects
The AM General High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV or Humvee) is one of the most widely used vehicles with more than 250,000 vehicles in service with as many as 20 countries. The orders are a boost for the platform which was singled out for a reduction in numbers in a recent US Army reform document.