G/ATOR- Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar
A Systems Engineering Perspective
By Grace Davis
Overview
“The AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) is a next-generation air surveillance/air defense and Air Traffic Control (ATC) radar designed to function as a multi-mission radar.” (MDAA)
The G/ATOR is a multi-mission active electronically scanned array (AESA) system that replaces 5 Marine Corp legacy single-mission radars. It has several functions and has ongoing software development. The first systems were GaAs (Gallium Arsenide), however, the company has since switched to GaN (Gallium Nitride) technology.
As of June 2023, 25 of the awarded 46 systems have been fielded for the United States Marine Corp (USMC) (News Room). As more developments are made the company hopes to be awarded more contracts.
Internal Stakeholders
A few internal stakeholders in the company are the engineering department, manufacturing, finance team, the IPT (integrated product team), and program managers. They all have a responsibility for the success of the system.
External Stakeholders
Users/Operators
Currently, the customer is the United States Marine Corps (USMC) however as with most engineering systems the company is always looking to see who else may want it. The USMC had many requirements for fielding a system including emplacement/displacement time. One of the key features of this system is its mobility and fast setup and tear down. When in a war zone mere seconds can be crucial.
Organizations
Some external organization-based stakeholders include the Department of Defense(DOD), Congress, and the general US population as well as any suppliers/vendors.
Competitors
Competitors of Northrop Grumman include Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Raytheon. However, competitors for the G/ATOR system are few and far between due to its incredible mobility capabilities and multi-mission programming.
Environment
For this RADAR system, there are two different types of environmental factors to be taken into consideration.
The first is the System Environment. The G/ATOR system interacts with many other system elements to work at full capabilities. A few examples include the operators, the USMC, the Power Equipment Group(PEG) which supplies power to the system, and the Communications Equipment Group (CEG) which supplies communication to the outside world. The CEG is responsible for any interactions with other defense programs including but not Common Aviation Command & Control System(CAC2S). CAC2S distributes data to ensure smooth operation among teams during joint efforts.
The second is more literal. The system is utilized in the field at cold and hot temperatures, in dry or wet climates. The system has been built to classified specifications to ensure it can be used wherever the USMC may need it. Other than different climates it also has to be compatible with uneven ground when set up and rugged enough to be towed via trailer over rough terrain. Due to its use in a military setting, fast breakdowns and set up are crucial.
INCOSE relation
Due to the nature of the continuous development and release of these systems, there is a large SEIT (Systems Engineering Integration and Test) network leading the efforts. One example of the INCOSE lifecycle process in relation to the G/ATOR system is the Life Cycle stages.
THE G/ATOR program follows a US Department of Defense(DOD) style life cycle. It is iterative and recursive due to continuous improvement efforts and new user needs. The system is currently in the “Production and deployment” stage. 21of 46 contract-awarded systems have been deployed and more contracts are in the works
Figure 2: US Department of Defense Lifecycle Model — INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook 4e 2015
Starting with the Production side, the organization contains the standard manufacturing and assembly team and then the I&T (Integration and Test) team. The I&T team ensures that everything is functioning and meeting test and performance specifications before the Marine Corps and Gov. Representatives sign off to receive it.
On the other side is software development. The program has one system on-site at all times and the software teams schedule shifts to test their software while going through development/
Conclusion
The G/ATOR system is a technological achievement in today’s age being a multi-mission RADAR. Having a SEIT organizational structure and clear lifecycle process is essential to both ongoing production and development success. The program is often being awarded new contracts for the System and other DOD organizations are taking an interest in purchasing some. Having a process to have ongoing development tested in integrated ensures the longevity of the program. Due to the system being relatively early in its life cycle no mentions of end-of-life phase out were found during initial research.
Works Cited
- Johnson, H. (2023, June 14). Northrop Grumman Enhances G/Ator with new performance capabilities. Northrop Grumman Newsroom. https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grumman-enhances-gator-with-new-performance-capabilities
- AN/TPS-80 ground/air task oriented radar (G/ATOR). Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance. (2019, February).
- AN/TPS-80 ground/air task-oriented radar (G/ATOR). Northrop Grumman. (n.d.). https://www.northropgrumman.com/what-we-do/land/an-tps-80-ground-air-task-oriented-radar-g-ator
- Katz, Justin. “What Is G/Ator, the Marine Corps’ Premiere Air Surveillance Radar?” Breaking Defense, Breaking Defense, 16 Sept. 2022, breakingdefense.com/2022/09/what-is-g-ator-the-marine-corps-premiere-air-surveillance-radar/.
- Lroy. (2018, July 30). USMC receives delivery of first gan-integrated AN/TPS-80 g/ator. Naval Technology. https://www.naval-technology.com/news/usmc-receives-delivery-first-gan-integrated-tps-80-g-ator/
- International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE). (2024). INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook: A Guide for System Life Cycle Processes and Activities (v4.0). Wiley
