G/ATOR is an expeditionary, three-dimensional, short- to medium-range multirole X-band radar system designed to detect low-observable, low-radar cross-section targets such as rockets, artillery, mortars, cruise missiles, and unmanned aircraft systems. The Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) is a single materiel solution for the mobile Multi-Role Radar System and Ground Weapons Locating Radar (GWLR) requirements.
The 3D X-band radar has been developed in three blocks, and will be employed by the MAGTF across the range of its capabilities. G/ATOR Block 1 (GB1) provides capabilities in the Short Range Air Defense and Air Surveillance mission areas and is capable of detecting incoming targets such as manned and unmanned aircraft, cruise missiles, rockets, artillery and mortars; GWLR G/ATOR Block 2 provides the ground weapons locating capability for counterbattery and counter-fire missions and Expeditionary Airport Surveillance. Radar G/ATOR Block 4 GB4 will address Air Traffic Control missions. G/ATOR Block 4 is not included in the Acquisition Program Baseline. Resourcing may be included in future budget builds. G/ATOR Block 3 was a series of enhancements that are incorporated into other blocks. The term Block 3 is no longer used.
The USMC took delivery of six low rate initial production (LRIP) GaAs radars in early 2017, with two of these used for the programme’s initial operational capability (IOC) of the air surveillance mission in February 2018. The remaining four systems will establish IOC for the counter-battery mission later this year (2018) , Northrop Grumman said in a statement.
The G/ATOR is the first production ground-based, multi-mission active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar that incorporates advanced gallium nitride (GaN) technology. The radar is integrated with advanced high-power and high-efficiency GaN antenna technology that improves its operational capabilities. The first six G/ATOR systems incorporated the standard gallium arsenide (GaA) technology; the seventh system and all subsequent systems produced will incorporate GaN antennas. Northrop Grumman delivered the first US Marine Corps (USMC) AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) fitted with gallium nitride (GaN) radar technology in July 2018.
The delivery of the latest variant of G/ATOR, marks the transition from gallium arsenide (GaAs) transmit and receive (T/R) modules to the advanced GaN T/R modules, which improve system performance and reliability.
The Army is coordinating with the Marine Corps to integrate the Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) with the Integrated Air and Missile Defense program, a sign of new confidence by the Army that its $7.9 billion IAMD program — beset two years ago by a string of serious developmental setbacks and schedule delays — has turned a corner and is “on track” for fielding in 2022 or sooner.
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