레이다 미해병대, 일본 수송기를 이용해 요나구니섬에 지상배치 레이더 수송 훈련

[위종민]

지난  7월 29일 미해병대가 레졸루트 드래곤 24 훈련의 일환으로 자위대의 C-2 수송기를 이용해 미해병대 12 해병연안연대 소속의 TPS-80 G/ATOR 레이더를 대만과 가까운 요나구니섬에 배치했다고 합니다. 

노스롭 그루먼의 TPS-80 홍보 페이지를 보니  AN/TPQ-46, UPS-3, AN/TPS-63, AN/MPQ-62 및 AN/TPS-73 5개의 레이더를 하나로 통합한다고 하네요. 

US Marines and Japanese military put new radar on Taiwan’s doorstep (defensenews.com)

US Marines and Japanese military put new radar on Taiwan’s doorstep

US Marines and Japanese military put new radar on Taiwan’s doorstep

By Todd South

 Aug 9, 2024, 03:02 AM

A Marine Corps AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar is deployed during exercise Resolute Dragon 24 in Japan on July 31. (Lance Cpl. Matthew Morales/Marine Corps)

With the help of the Japanese military, Marines have deployed one of their newest radar systems to a small island within 70 miles of Taiwan, the closest Japanese territory to the island.

Marines with the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment used a Japanese Self-Defense Force C-2 cargo plane to transport the TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar, or G/ATOR to the island of Yonaguni on July 29.

Yonaguni is the last in a string of islands that are part of Okinawa, which is home to 18,000 and another 7,000 U.S. Air Force personnel, according to the Marine Corps.

Troops deployed the radar as part of training with enhanced sensing and targeting data between 12th MLR and the Japanese military during Exercise Resolute Dragon, the Marines said. The exercise served as a test of readiness between partner nation units and their technology.

This year’s iteration was the fourth in the exercise’s history and has seen 3,000 Marines and sailors from III Marine Expeditionary Force train alongside their Japanese counterparts.

Lt. Col. Joseph Mozzi, the regiment’s fire support coordinator, said the radar and transport capability “will significantly boost multi-domain operations and overall battlespace awareness,” that allows for full-scope detection and tracking of air, land and sea targets.

RELATED

In China’s backyard: The new Marine regiments changing the fightHere's what you need to know about the Corps’ newest regiment: the ­Marine littoral regiment.

By Todd South

G/ATOR combines the capabilities of five legacy systems to provide air and ground surveillance, as well as weapons control, in a single piece of equipment, Defense News previously reported.

The multi-mission radar system initial contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman in 2019 for $958 million. The aim was to provide Marines with real-time, “360-degree situational awareness to identify and track missiles, manned and unmanned aircraft vehicles, rockets, mortars, and artillery fire,” Defense News reported.

The contract allowed for the Corps to procure up to 30 radar systems, which the service completed in fiscal year 2023.

In 2023, Northrop announced an enhancement upgrade to the radar system to extend its detection and tracking ranges.

In their most recent budget request for fiscal year 2025, the Corps asked for $4.2 billion in procurement for ground systems and another $3 billion for research and development, according to budget documents.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Ethan Richter, a field artillery radar operator with 12th Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division connects an AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar cable to a power generator during exercise Resolute Dragon 24 at Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Camp Yonaguni, Okinawa, Japan, July 31, 2024. (Lance Cpl. Matthew Morales/Marine Corps)

The G/ATOR upgrade effort is expected to cost $51.3 million total, according to budget documents.

The 12th MLR was re-designated out of the 12th Marine Regiment, an artillery unit, in November, Marine Corps Times previously reported.

It is the second of three planned MLRs that the Corps has slated for the Pacific region. The 3rd MLR was borne from the 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment in March 2022 and calls Marine Corps Base Hawaii home.

The next littoral regiment is scheduled to launch in 2025 and be based out of Guam, filled by rotational units from the U.S. mainland, according to a 2023 Congressional Research Service report.

Once fully kitted out, the regiments will have their own naval ship interdiction system, a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle-mounted Naval Strike Missile; an MQ-9 Reaper drone; the G/ATOR radar system and a yet-to-be-determined shore-to-shore watercraft likely based on concepts being developed in the landing ship medium program, formerly called the light amphibious warships.

Regiments are expected to have between 1,800-2,000 Marines and Navy medical and support personnel and be able to operate as distinct, task-organized units as small as a handful of Marines or up to a battalion or larger.

요나구니 섬의 위치 및 대만과의 거리 ( 약 120km )

AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) | Northrop Grumman

AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) | Northrop Grumman

 It consolidates the air surveillance, air defense and counterfire target acquisition missions of the AN/TPQ-46, UPS-3, AN/TPS-63, AN/MPQ-62 and AN/TPS-73 into one package with radar, power and communications elements.