Northrop Grumman has secured a contract from Space Systems Command to build the U.S. base of the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability project for tracking satellites and debris in geosynchronous orbits.
Under the AUKUS trilateral partnership, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia agreed to host and operate a DARC site to enable allied space domain awareness.
U.S. Space Force Col. Bryon McClain, SSC program executive officer for space domain awareness and combat power, said the ground-based radar sites can quickly detect small space objects and satellites and provide precise orbital information. With the capability, the U.S. and its allies can identify adversarial threats with the potential to disrupt or deny civil and military space services, he added.
The latest award builds on a $341 million contract Northrop secured in 2022 to develop the first DARC site in Australia. A prototype for that radar site is expected to be completed by September 2025.
Meanwhile, the U.K. Ministry of Defence has proposed redeveloping Cawdor Barracks in southwest Wales as the site for the planned third radar capability for the DARC initiative.
A planning permission from the Pembrokeshire County Council is pending, subject to meeting safety requirements and holding public consultations in September.
“This new radar program will not only enhance our awareness of deep space but also help protect our space assets alongside our closest partners,” U.K. Secretary of State for Defence John Healey said.