U.S. Air Force and Marines enhance air surveillance in Indo Pacific with joint training.

According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense at the end of June 2025, U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 623rd Air Control Squadron and U.S. Marines from the 12th Littoral Anti-Air Battalion conducted a joint air surveillance and systems integration training exercise at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, from June 22 to 30, 2025. The initiative focused on enhancing joint interoperability by linking two advanced command and control assets: the AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) and the Tactical Operations Center-Light (TOC-L).
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U.S. Marines from the 12th Littoral Anti-Air Battalion deploy their AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar system at Kadena Air Base, Japan, on June 26, 2025, as part of a joint integration exercise to enhance air surveillance capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

The deployment of the G/ATOR system by U.S. Marines to Kadena highlights its strategic relevance to the evolving security demands in the Indo-Pacific. Developed by Northrop Grumman for the U.S. Marine Corps, the AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR is a next-generation, mobile multi-mission radar platform that consolidates five legacy systems into one highly adaptable solution. It leverages active electronically scanned array radar with gallium nitride components to provide comprehensive surveillance and threat tracking capabilities. The system offers 360-degree coverage with a detection range of up to 278 kilometers, and can identify a wide array of aerial threats including manned aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, low-observable cruise missiles, rockets, artillery, and mortars.

The radar's deployment to Kadena was driven by specific terrain requirements necessary for optimal performance, which the 623rd ACS could uniquely accommodate. Recognizing the potential for enhanced operational synergy, the squadron initiated a collaborative effort to integrate G/ATOR with its TOC-L system. The TOC-L consolidates real-time sensor data from multiple platforms into a unified operational picture, dramatically improving situational awareness and enabling rapid, agile decision-making during joint-force operations.

This joint integration marks a significant advancement in U.S. defense capabilities in the Indo-Pacific. By fusing G/ATOR’s extended detection and tracking capacity with the data-processing power of the TOC-L, the two services demonstrated a robust and adaptive air surveillance network tailored to contemporary multi-domain threats. The successful link-up enhances the U.S. ability to conduct precision airspace management and early threat response in scenarios ranging from contested air environments to integrated missile defense operations.

The strategic value of this exercise is further underscored by the broader importance of U.S. military presence in Japan. Positioned at the gateway of the Western Pacific, Japan and particularly Okinawa serves as a vital hub for regional power projection. It enables rapid U.S. access to critical sea lanes and air routes while bolstering forward-based deterrence against peer competitors. The permanent stationing of advanced capabilities such as G/ATOR enhances not only national security but also the collective defense posture under the U.S.-Japan alliance and broader Indo-Pacific partnerships.

As geopolitical tensions rise and regional actors expand their anti-access and area-denial capabilities, integration exercises like the one conducted at Kadena signal the U.S. commitment to maintaining technological superiority, operational flexibility, and joint readiness. The successful combination of the G/ATOR and TOC-L systems represents a forward leap in U.S. efforts to secure air dominance and maintain a stable, rules-based order across the Indo-Pacific.