USMC G/ATOR passes initial operational test and evaluation
NewsMay 14, 2019
BALTIMORE. Northrop Grumman officials announced that the U.S. Marine Corps' (USMC) AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) Blocks 1 and 2 passed Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E).
The Northrop Grumman-built N/TPS-80 G/ATOR is an advanced, multimission Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar that provides comprehensive real time, 360 degree situational awareness.
IOT&E is a rigorous phase of testing that a new system undergoes to determine that it is operationally effective and suitable for fleet introduction. The milestone demonstrates viability and suitability of the system, and completion indicates the Marine Corps is ready to operate and field G/ATOR Blocks 1 and 2 in their current configuration.
To date, eight production systems have been delivered to the Marine Corps. In early 2017, Northrop Grumman delivered six low rate initial production systems. The first Gallium Nitride systems were delivered ahead of schedule in July 2018 and were used for development test (DT) 1E1, DT1E2 and IOT&E.
