Northrup Gruman’s TPS-80 Radar Deployed To A Japanese Island Close To Taiwan

Last week, the U.S. Marine Corps culminated exercises with the Japanese Self Defence forces. According to a press release from the U.S. Marine Corps, around 3,000 U.S. servicemen and women trained with their Japanese Self Defence Force allies “to rehearse and strengthen their multi-domain maneuver capabilities and combined arms integration.”

One of the main themes of the exercise was the defence of the southwest islands, close to Taiwan. In recent years Japan has stationed radars, electronic warfare assets, and plans on deploying surface-to-surface missiles across its southwestern islands [USNI]. Additionally, the U.S. tends to reinforce this deployment with a contingent of marines to deny access to Chinese forces in the case of war.

 Interestingly, during the exercise, the Marine Corps deployed the powerful Boeing TPS-80 radar, which according to Northrop Grumman, can detect a variety of incoming airborne threats as well as incoming indirect fires [USNI]. If war breaks out, the Marine Corps plans to station small units of marines across Japan’s southwestern islands, equipped with anti-ship missiles and sensors, including the TPS.

Early warning systems will be vital for the Corps to prevent casualties from a likely barrage of Chinese ordinance.