AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar

AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar

Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) prototype at Quantico Marine Base, September 2010
Country of origin United States
Introduced 2016 (Planned)
Type Short/Medium Range Multi-Role Radar System
Frequency 2–4 GHz
Other Names G/ATOR

The AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) is the United States Marine Corps next generation Air Surveillance/Air Defense and Air Traffic Control (ATC) Radar. The mobile active electronically scanned array radar system is currently being developed by Northrop Grumman and is expected to reach initial operating capability in August 2016.[1]

Mission and Description

The Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) is a single material solution for the mobile Multi-Role Radar System and Ground Weapons Locating Radar (GWLR) requirements. It is a three-dimensional, short/medium range multi-role radar designed to detect unmanned aerial systems, cruise missiles, air breathing targets, rockets, artillery, and mortars. G/ATOR satisfies the warfighter's expeditionary needs across the Marine Air-Ground Task Force spectrum replacing five legacy radar systems with a single solution.[1][2] The five Marine Corps legacy radar systems being replaced by this multi-function capability include: the AN/TPS-63 (air defense), AN/TPS-73 (air-traffic control), AN/MPQ-62 (short range air defense), AN/TPQ-46 (counter-fire target acquisition) and UPS-3 (target tracking).[3] Additionally, it will augment the AN/TPS-59 long-range radar.[4]

The Program Executive Office (PEO), Land Systems Marine Corps is executing the G/ATOR program as an evolutionary acquisition program consisting of four capabilities, referred to as blocks.[1][4]

G/ATOR System Configuration

G/ATOR provides real-time radar measurement data to the Tactical Air Operations Module, Common Aviation Command and Control System (CAC2S), Composite Tracking Network, and Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System.[5]

The G/ATOR baseline system configuration consists of three subsystems:[4]

Development

Development of the G/ATOR began in September 2005 when the Marine Corps awarded a $7.9 million contract to Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems. Initial design requirements required planning for short-range air surveillance, counter-battery fire and target acquisition, and sensor networking. The requirement also required Block 1 to allow for incremental implementation of the following blocks without equipment or software redesign.[5]

In 2009, a $14 million cost overrun for the G/ATOR, attributed to requirements creep and increasing cost of scarce materials required in advanced electronic components. In 2012 the Marine Corps and Northrop Grumman began Block 2 development, beginning with upgrading the Block 1 equipment and software for performing GWLR requirements.[5][6]

The G/ATOR program obtained a successful Milestone C decision in March 2014. In October 2014, a 207.3 million dollar low rate initial production (LRIP) contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman for the first lot of four systems.[5][7] In March 2015, another contract worth $113 million was awarded to produce two additional systems to be delivered in October 2017.[6][8]

In September 2015, the Marine Corps awarded Northrop Grumman a 58.7 million dollar contract to incorporate and test the GWLR mode for the G/ATOR.[9]

A total of 57 G/ATOR systems are planned for procurement.[1][4]

Main characteristics

Nomenclature

Per the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the nomenclature AN/TPS-80 is thus derived:

See also

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the U.S. Department of Defense.

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Selected Acquisition Report (SAR), Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR)" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. Department of Defense. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  2. Gourley, Scott R. (Summer 2012). "Ground-based Air Defense and Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar" (PDF). Program Executive Officer Land Systems. Marine Corps Systems Command. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  3. Burgess, Richard R. (November 2010). "A Radar for All Missions". Seapower 53 (11): 42–44. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR)" (PDF). The Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation. Director, Operational Test & Evaluation. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Keller, John (October 24, 2014). "After nine years, Marine Corp finally may have full production of G/ATOR radar in sight". Military Aerospace Electronics Magazine. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  6. 1 2 Keller, John (March 17, 2015). "Latest order for Marine Corps G/ATOR radar systems brings total number of radars to six". Military Aerospace Electronics Magazine. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  7. "AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR)". Marine Corps Concepts and Programs. United States Marine Corps. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  8. Withington, Thomas. "AMR Pulse - Radar". Asian Military Review. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  9. "Northrop Grumman Receives Contract to Add Ground Capabilities to AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar". Globe Newswire. Retrieved 21 October 2015.

External links

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