Northrop Grumman to add ground detection capability to Marine Corps' AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR radars 21410152.

"Inserting this capability into G/ATOR is an important step toward providing the Marines with a highly capable and highly versatile system," said Roshan Roeder, Director, Ground Based Tactical Radars, Land and Self Protection Systems Division, Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems. "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."

The GWLR mode enables G/ATOR to detect and track time-critical incoming threats, such as rockets, mortars and artillery rounds. Once the radar has detected incoming threats, the system rapidly analyzes their ballistic trajectories and computes their impact points which enables rapid and accurate threat engagement by counterfire forces. It is designed to be airlifted onto site by three helicopters or Osprey vertical-lift planes and assembled in 45 minutes.

Over the past several years, Northrop Grumman has used a surrogate AESA radar to validate GWLR algorithms and associated software at multiple DOD test venues and events. The G/ATOR system entered low rate initial production in 2014 and additional low rate initial production systems were placed under contract in early 2015. Northrop Grumman began producing G/ATOR, which replaces five older systems, in 2014. As planned, the G/ATOR program is incrementally incorporating additional mission capabilities via software updates.