The AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar (G/ATOR), built by Northrop Grumman Corporation, has been approved for early fielding by the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC).
This milestone follows the delivery of the final Lot 1 and Lot 2 Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) G/ATOR system to the Marines. The USMC will field the first two systems by delivering them to Marine Air Control Squadrons 1 and 2 for operational use.
Early fielding, also known as Initial Operational Capability (IOC), is a significant milestone that indicates a system is ready for operational deployment. It is achieved when production systems, spares, logistic support and documentation have been tested and validated.
As the developer and system integrator, Northrop Grumman has taken G/ATOR from concept through to production. Northrop Grumman delivered six G/ATOR systems with GaAs technology to the Marine Corps in Lots 1 and 2. Beginning with Lot 3 deliveries and including all full-rate production systems, G/ATOR will incorporate high power, high efficiency GaN technology to further enhance operational capabilities.
Under a separate contract, Northrop Grumman will provide logistics support to the Marine Corps for G/ATOR systems.
“Through our close partnership with the Marine Corps, we have been able to achieve this important early fielding milestone. We are looking ahead to full-rate production and getting G/ATOR’s unprecedented capabilities to the Marines in the field.” — Roshan Roeder, vice president, land & avionics C4ISR division, Northrop Grumman Mission Systems