The Northrop Grumman-developed AN/TPS-80 ground/air task oriented radar (G/ATOR), built for the US Marine Corps (USMC), has successfully completed developmental testing.
Over the past 10 months, the G/ATOR also supported two weapons and tactics instruction (WTI) events at the Marine Air Control Squadron (MACS) Yuma, supporting the operational assessment for Milestone C.
During the assessment, the AN/TPS-80 successfully detected, tracked and identified a wide range of aerial targets while providing situational awareness.
The radar also validated its ability to extract targets from heavy clutter backgrounds while exceeding objective-level operational availability requirement.
Northrop Grumman land and self protection systems division vice-president and general manager Jeffrey Palombo said the AN/TPS-80 detected and tracked targets, under very intense testing conditions, that other systems at the exercise were not able to.
"We look forward to continuing our strong partnership and collaboration with the Marine Corps on this programme as it proceeds to Milestone C," Palombo said.
Developed for the US Department of Defense (DoD), the AN/TPS-80 is the first ground-based, multimission radar features open, scalable architecture to enable digital interoperability and incorporation of new capabilities through software-only updates.
During company-funded testing conducted earlier this year at Wallops Island, Virginia, the AN/TPS-80 engineering development model (EDM) system validated its ballistic missile defence capability by detecting multiple rocket launches.
Completion of the developmental testing and assessment as well as production readiness review in September, allows the USMC for a Milestone C decision to authorise low-rate initial production.
Prior to undergoing more rigorous developmental testing at MACS Yuma, the government AN/TPS-80 EDM system completed two phases of government developmental testing at the Surface Combat Systems Center (SCSC) at Wallops Island.
