MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. --- Marines with Marine Air Control Squadron 2 received their Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar system after final field testing at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Feb. 26, 2018. MACS-2 will be the first Marine Corps unit to receive the AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR which will improve MACS-2’s expeditionary mobility and capabilities.
The AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR is a highly expeditionary, three-dimensional, short-to-medium-range multi-role radar that will replace several legacy and retired systems such as the AN/TPS-63. The difference will be easy hardware/software replacement, the capability for elevation tracking and assisting the AN/TPS-59A(V)3 Long-Range Radar in filling in gaps in radar resolution.
“One of the biggest factors compared to legacy systems, is the emplacement time,” said Cpl. William Blosser, an aviation radar technician with MACS-2. “Both of your vehicles can roll up, park and within 30 minutes you can have this array erected and spinning.”
Blosser said the an older model, the AN/TPS-59A(V)3 took roughly eight hours to set up or tear down completely and the AN/TPS-63 took three hours. He said the 30 minute emplacement time for the G/ATOR is a vast improvement.
The G/ATOR will interface with a Common Aviation Command and Control System and Composite Tracking Network in an expeditionary environment and will allow Marine Air-Ground Task Force commanders to better prepare via situational awareness and targeting data.
“This is an entire new capability set for the [tactical air operations center],” said Staff Sgt. Daniel Turner, an aviation radar technician with MACS-2. “The [AN/TPS-63] used tube amplifiers in series, and this is all solid state amplification [on the AN/TPS-80].”
“You will get fewer false alarms, fewer false targets. You will have better detection and improved accuracy and resolution.”
“The ability to digitally share information so that situational awareness is greater and decision making becomes quicker. It reduces operational response time across the MAGTF,” said Lt. Col. John Naylor, the commanding officer of MACS-2.