NEWTOWN, Conn. -- The Northrop Grumman TPS-80 G/ATOR program continues to move forward, and is now well into its transition from the RDT&E stage to the operational stage.
LRIP deliveries began in 2015. However, until July 2018, all deliveries were only of the gallium arsenide (GaAs) variant. With the emergence of gallium nitride (GaN) electronics as an industry-wide trend, the U.S. DoD had the TPS-80 program reconfigured to utilize the latest in GaN developments. The initial contract for LRIP GaN units was awarded in August 2016, with the first delivery in July 2018. An FRP GaN contract was awarded in June 2019.
From 2022 through 2025, 28 TPS-80s are expected to be built for the U.S. Marine Corps. Beginning in 2021, GaAs-equipped units were being retrofit to the GaN configuration using funding that is included in Forecast International's O&M forecast line.
The U.S. Marine Corps will want to maintain the high technological standard and capability of its TPS-80 G/ATORs. It will dedicate a significant amount of RDT&E funding to develop - as well as O&M / Upgrade funding to maintain and implement - upgrades to its systems. The combined efforts will provide an estimated $512.2 million in funding to G/ATOR contractors in the 2022 through 2031 timeframe alone.
One factor that could increase RDT&E and O&M expenditures is the inclusion of the proposed Block 4 capability. Under the Block 4 capability requirements, air traffic control mission duties would be added to the TPS-80 G/ATOR. As of writing, this is an unfunded requirement, but if Block 4 plans move ahead, RDT&E and O&M funding could expand.
At this time, no foreign sales are forecast, as the U.S. will want to keep the G/ATOR's technologies to itself for the coming years, and it is too early to estimate international demand for the system.
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