The U.S. Marine Corps has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a $207,291,682 contract for low-rate initial production (LRIP) of AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) systems.
Northrop Grumman has received a contract from the U.S. Marine Corps for low-rate initial production of the AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR). G/ATOR is the first ground-based multi-mission active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar to be developed by the Department of Defense. It provides air surveillance, air defense, ground weapon locating and air traffic control capabilities.
G/ATOR is the first ground-based multimission active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar to be developed by the Department of Defense (DOD). It provides air surveillance, air defense, ground weapon locating and air traffic control capabilities. Under Northrop Grumman funding, G/ATOR has also demonstrated its ability to reliably detect high-speed rocket and missile systems.
"G/ATOR will fundamentally change how the Marines deploy and fight," said Jeffrey Q. Palombo, vice president and general manager, Land and Self Protection Systems Division, Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems. "Evidenced by the mission capabilities proven during operational testing, the Marines will have an unprecedented degree of protection and situational awareness."
Under terms of the contract with the Marine Corps Program Executive Office for Land Systems, Northrop Grumman will deliver the systems in 2016-17. Additional LRIP contracts are anticipated, followed by multiyear, full-rate production. Additional funding will also be placed on contract to incorporate new software-based capabilities for this multimission radar system. G/ATOR's total program value could exceed $2 billion.
This initial LRIP award follows comprehensive subsystem and system level G/ATOR testing, including one year of developmental testing, a formal Marine Corps operational assessment and a detailed production readiness review in 2013. The system reached a successful Milestone C in January as part of the formal DOD acquisition process, which resulted in the recommendation to enter LRIP.
Northrop Grumman is a leader in the development of AESA radar systems and is also on contract to develop and test high-performance short- and medium-range radars for other DOD ground- and ship-based applications. The company's family of ground radar systems includes the Highly Adaptable Multi-Mission Radar AESA systems as well as the solid-state AN/TPS-78 and TPS-703 radar systems.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.