AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR Software Upgrade Boosts Air Surveillance Range and Fire Control Precision
BALTIMORE, Md. – Dec. 9, 2025 – The recent software update to Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) has introduced new extended range functionalities. This enhancement empowers the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) and U.S. Air Force (USAF) to detect potential threats from increased distances and enhance their response times.
USMC Lance Cpl. Tanner Angiletta prepares a G/ATOR during a joint fire support rehearsal training in August. (Photo Credit: USMC Cpl. Evelyn Doherty)
This software update not only introduces a new extended range mode but also enhances G/ATOR’s identification friend or foe (IFF) capabilities and improves interoperability. These advancements allow the radar to better categorize detected threats and facilitate intelligence sharing with allied forces through an open architecture command and control connection. All currently deployed G/ATOR systems have received this essential update.
“G/ATOR’s extended range and enhanced identification systems provide U.S. and allied forces with a crucial tactical advantage,” said Bob Gough, vice president of maritime and land systems and sensors at Northrop Grumman. “Our radar system is designed to operate in complex air defense scenarios – detecting, tracking, and targeting threats in real time.”
G/ATOR is a versatile, mobile radar system, utilizing a long-range active electronically scanned array (AESA) that functions in the S-band frequency range. It delivers accurate fire control and offers real-time 360-degree, four-dimensional tracking of various airborne threats, including cruise missiles, hypersonic missiles, crewed aircraft, and uncrewed aerial systems.
To date, thirty-nine G/ATOR radars have been delivered to the USMC and USAF, with the 40th delivery expected later this year. This radar system features Northrop Grumman’s U.S.-manufactured microelectronics, supporting advanced multifunctional and multi-mission capabilities.
Northrop Grumman stands as a leader in the global aerospace and defense technology sector. The company is dedicated to providing pioneering solutions that equip customers with necessary capabilities to connect and protect the world while pushing the boundaries of human exploration beyond our planet. With a shared mission to address the toughest challenges our customers face, Northrop Grumman employees define what is possible every day.
Source: Northrop Grumman (2025-12-09T09:00:00Z)
