Manufacturer Says Tobago Radar Not Designed for Maritime Tracking

The manufacturer of the AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) installed in Tobago has stated that the system is not designed for maritime operations, raising questions about its reported role in recent drug interdiction efforts in Trinidad.

According to The New York Times, a representative from Northrop Grumman—the American aerospace and defence technology company that manufactures the G/ATOR system—confirmed that the radar is not intended to track maritime or ground targets. The executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said the radar is primarily used to identify and help destroy aerial targets.

The statement follows claims by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) that intelligence generated by the radar led to a coordinated overnight operation at the Caroni Swamp last Friday, during which officers seized 1,560 kilogrammes of marijuana with an estimated street value of $171.2 million. No arrests were made during the operation.

Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro said officers located a vessel hidden in the mangrove area of the swamp containing the illegal cargo. He later defended the absence of arrests, stating that officers would have had to wait for the vessel’s owner to return to collect the drugs.

However, the TTPS has not provided details on how the radar was used to generate intelligence for the operation.

On its website, Northrop Grumman describes the AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR as a system designed to detect, track and target advanced airborne threats. The radar is operationally deployed with the United States Marine Corps and United States Air Force, and is integrated into modern air and missile defence systems.

In a separate statement cited by The New York Times, the United States Southern Command (USSouthCom) confirmed that US Marines delivered the radar to Tobago with the permission of the Trinidad and Tobago Government. USSouthCom said the system supports US military forces deployed to the Caribbean to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the US homeland.

Contacted for comment, Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander questioned the accuracy of claims that the radar is strictly for air-defence purposes. He said he was unaware of the source of the information and requested a copy of the New York Times article before responding further. After the article was sent to him, Alexander did not provide additional comment.

Attempts to contact Commissioner Guevarro for further clarification were unsuccessful.

Opposition Leader Penelope Beckles has also raised concerns over the use of the radar in recent drug seizures. Speaking at a political meeting in Tobago last weekend, Beckles urged voters to consider what she described as the secrecy surrounding the radar’s installation ahead of the Tobago House of Assembly elections scheduled for January 12, 2026.

The radar was first observed last month at the ANR Robinson International Airport in Crown Point before any official announcement was made. Shortly thereafter, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar confirmed the presence of US Marines on the island.

The Prime Minister later said she had requested the radar from the United States as a temporary solution to Trinidad and Tobago’s inadequate surveillance capabilities. She said the system would provide real-time monitoring of the country’s air and sea space, with another unit expected to be installed in Trinidad until a permanent radar replacement is secured.

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