What is G/ATOR, the Marine Corps' premiere air surveillance radar? - Breaking Defense

At a time when the Ukrainian military has shocked the world with its use of unmanned aerial drones, such as the Turkish Bayraktar TB2, the US Marine Corps is slowly moving towards the pinnacle milestone for its new expeditionary, air surveillance radar.

Following its successful test as part of the Marine Corps’ Medium-Range Intercept Capability earlier this year, the Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar, or G/ATOR, has received multiples plaudits from the highest ranks of the Marine Corps, including just this week from the service’s second highest ranking officer, Gen. Eric Smith, who called the program a “phenomenal success story.”

Now, the program office is working towards a “significant test event involving [G/ATOR’s] Ground Weapons Locating Radar variant” scheduled for next year, according to the program office. Beyond that, a declaration for full operational capability, the acquisition milestone signaling the technology has met and achieved every expectation placed on it, is planned for 2025.

With the service moving full steam ahead on G/ATOR and officers such as Smith applauding it publicly, Breaking Defense thought the Marine Corps’ only “organic surveillance radar” was worth a closer look.