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Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program
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<h2 id="overview">Overview</h2> <p>The MP-RTIP is a "modular, <a href="/facts/Active_electronically_scanned_array/X8EyLJmD">active electronically scanned array</a> radar system" designed to be scaled in size in order to fit on board different platforms. The system is being developed from earlier Northrop Grumman radar systems, including the <a href="/facts/E-8_Joint_STARS/KjT1sjKl">Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System</a> (JointSTARS) and the existing Global Hawk system. The next-generation system will improve the Air Force's ability to track slow-moving ground vehicles and low-flying cruise missiles.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> The primary improvements are a dramatic increase in resolution and an ability "to collect ground moving target indicator imagery and synthetic aperture radar still images simultaneously".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p><p>The Global Hawk, which currently is an air-to-ground radar platform, was originally due to receive air-to-air capability through the MP-RTIP. That capability was subsequently removed from the test program's budget, however, in a reversal, funding for an air-to-air capability is being restored.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> RQ-4B Block 40 and later have MP-RTIP installed for dual air and ground surveillance capacity.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="development">Development</h2> <p>Phase I of the development program began in December, 2000. The three-year program was undertaken by Northrop Grumman at a contract cost of $410 million, and focused on the basic design of the radar system. Phase II is a six-year, $888 million contract awarded by the Air Force's <a href="/facts/Electronic_Systems_Center/Ix0AUnGx">Electronic Systems Center</a> in May, 2004, under which the radar system is being developed, tested and integrated. <a href="/facts/Raytheon/wGGxdMoD">Raytheon's</a> <a href="/facts/Raytheon_Space_and_Airborne_Systems/6tC7KHrH">Space and Airborne Systems</a> is a subcontractor on the program, tasked with hardware development. Phase II calls for the production of six systems, three for Global Hawk and three for the E-10.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p><p>The Global Hawk's system is the first to be flight tested, a program for which Northrop Grumman is using its <a href="/facts/Scaled_Composites_Proteus/sTroB7wG">Proteus</a> aircraft (built by <a href="/facts/Scaled_Composites/lnDfbH6d">Scaled Composites</a>). The MP-RTIP is mounted in a large pod fitted under Proteus. The program, jointly conducted by Northrop Grumman and the Air Force's 851st Electronic Systems Group, is being operated from the <a href="/facts/Mojave_Spaceport/BRUofdUg">Mojave Spaceport</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p><p>Eventually, the entire program is expected to cost $2 billion. With the <a href="/facts/Northrop_Grumman_E-10_MC2A/F8dg7nxH">E-10</a> program cancellation, five E-8 JointSTARS aircraft are expected to be retrofitted with the MP-RTIP.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> The USAF ended up pursuing cheaper ways to modernize the E-8, though the MP-RTIP receiver technology did see use in the form of JSTARS Radar Modernization (JSRM).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program at GlobalSecurity.org <a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/systems/mp-rtip.htm" target="_blank">http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/systems/mp-rtip.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Northrop-Grumman press release, May 3, 2004, accessed April 20, 2007 Archived November 13, 2006, at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://www.is.northropgrumman.com/media_news/2004_data/mn04_mp-rtip_sdd_is2504.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.is.northropgrumman.com/media_news/2004_data/mn04_mp-rtip_sdd_is2504.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Northrop-Grumman press release, May 3, 2004, accessed April 20, 2007 Archived November 13, 2006, at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://www.is.northropgrumman.com/media_news/2004_data/mn04_mp-rtip_sdd_is2504.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.is.northropgrumman.com/media_news/2004_data/mn04_mp-rtip_sdd_is2504.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Raytheon press release, accessed April 20, 2007 <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/micro_stories.pl?ACCT=683935&TICK=RTN6&STORY=/www/story/06-10-2004/0002191062&EDATE=Jun+10,+2004" target="_blank">http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/micro_stories.pl?ACCT=683935&TICK=RTN6&STORY=/www/story/06-10-2004/0002191062&EDATE=Jun+10,+2004</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"MP-RTIP: Rutan To Get First Crack At Flight Test", Shephard Press Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://www.shephard.co.uk/UVOnline/Default.aspx?Action=-187126550&ID=561258e2-3206-499e-95b6-61d601fc24a3Rutan's" target="_blank">http://www.shephard.co.uk/UVOnline/Default.aspx?Action=-187126550&ID=561258e2-3206-499e-95b6-61d601fc24a3Rutan's</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>RQ-4 Global Hawk & MQ-4C Triton Archived 30 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Bga-Aeroweb.com <a href="http://www.bga-aeroweb.com/Defense/RQ-4-Global-Hawk.html" target="_blank">http://www.bga-aeroweb.com/Defense/RQ-4-Global-Hawk.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Northrop-Grumman press release, May 3, 2004, accessed April 20, 2007 Archived November 13, 2006, at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://www.is.northropgrumman.com/media_news/2004_data/mn04_mp-rtip_sdd_is2504.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.is.northropgrumman.com/media_news/2004_data/mn04_mp-rtip_sdd_is2504.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"E-10's MP-RTIP Ground Surveillance Radar to Test Aboard Proteus", Defense Industry Daily, May 17, 2006, accessed April 20, 2007 <a href="http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2006/05/e10s-mprtip-ground-surveillance-radar-to-test-aboard-proteus/index.php" target="_blank">http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2006/05/e10s-mprtip-ground-surveillance-radar-to-test-aboard-proteus/index.php</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"MP-RTIP: Rutan To Get First Crack At Flight Test", Shephard Press Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://www.shephard.co.uk/UVOnline/Default.aspx?Action=-187126550&ID=561258e2-3206-499e-95b6-61d601fc24a3Rutan's" target="_blank">http://www.shephard.co.uk/UVOnline/Default.aspx?Action=-187126550&ID=561258e2-3206-499e-95b6-61d601fc24a3Rutan's</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program at GlobalSecurity.org <a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/systems/mp-rtip.htm" target="_blank">http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/systems/mp-rtip.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"JSTARS Replacement: Competition Opened Wide - Defense Industry Daily". www.defenseindustrydaily.com/. <a href="https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/jumped-up-jstars-mp-rtip-technology-for-ground-surveillance-planes-05156/" target="_blank">https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/jumped-up-jstars-mp-rtip-technology-for-ground-surveillance-planes-05156/</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>