The U.S. Marine Corps awarded Northrop Grumman a $207 million modification to a previously awarded contract to begin low-rate initial production (LRIP) of four ground/air task-oriented radar (G/ATOR) systems, plus spares and support. G/ATOR is the Pentagon’s first program to develop a ground-based, multi-mission active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, the company said.

Under the terms of the contract with the Marine Corps program executive office for land systems in Quantico, Va., Northrop Grumman will deliver the radars in 2016 and 2017. The company expects the service will award additional LRIP contracts, “followed by multiyear, full-rate production.” The program’s total value could exceed $2 billion.

The first LRIP contract award, which the Pentagon announced on October 23, followed a formal Marine Corps operational assessment and production readiness review in 2013. The program reached a Milestone C decision to begin production in January.

The Marine Corps plans to field G/ATOR in three blocks. It describes the system as an “expeditionary, three-dimensional, short-to-medium-range multi-role radar system designed to detect low-observable, low-radar cross section targets such as rockets, artillery, mortars, cruise missiles and unmanned aircraft systems.” According to Northrop Grumman, the system can provide air surveillance, air defense, ground weapon locating and ATC functions.

Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin are contesting a recent Air Force contract award to Raytheon for engineering and manufacturing development of the “3DELRR” long-range expeditionary radar. The two contractors filed protests with the Government Accountability Office, which has until late January to uphold or dismiss the protests. Meanwhile, the Air Force has suspended work on the program.