The US Marine Corps (USMC) has deployed an AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) along with one of its units to Lithuania.
The deployment is in support of the Nato’s enduring Air Policing mission. It is also the first time USMC has deployed its unit to support the operation.
Throughout the deployment, the unit will provide air defence, radar surveillance, multi-domain command and control, air traffic control and other communications support.
US Marines will use the G/ATOR, a next generation air surveillance, air defence and air traffic control (ATC) radar, to conduct air domain awareness and air surveillance during the mission.
The newest AN/TPS-80 is a multi-role, medium-range radar, which uses active scanning to build an airspace picture for the controllers.
Developed by Northrop Grumman, the radar will also provide detailed real-time situational awareness to counter several airborne threats.
USMC deployed unit commanding officer colonel Michael McCarthy said: “This deployment highlights the expeditionary character of our marines and the command-and-control systems they employ such as the AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR.
“With little notice and a light footprint, we were able to seamlessly move from training in an arctic, maritime environment to the Baltics; reassuring allies and immediately contributing to USAFE and Nato operations.”
Before the deployment to Lithuania, the USMC unit participated in the Norwegian-led Exercise Cold Response 22 (CR 22).
The exercise witnessed the participation of Nato allies and partner nations to train together in extreme cold weather conditions on land, in the air, and at sea.
