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Northrop Grumman has been selected to develop the global Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability that will track objects in the geosynchronous orbit, protecting critical US and allied satellites as part of the trilateral AUKUS alliance.
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Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) is a global network of three advanced ground-based sensors to be operated in collaboration with AUKUS alliance partners: the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Leaders from the three countries recently signed a memorandum of understanding to host and operate DARC as a collaboration to expand beyond what individual nations could achieve alone in one of the most critical domains for future security.
The new program is designed to provide 24/7, all-weather capabilities that will increase the ability to detect, track, identify and characterise objects in deep space, with the memorandum of understanding between the three countries set to last 22 years.
US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy Dr John Plumb said in December 2023, “The Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability will leverage the geography of the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom to further enhance our collective space domain awareness: the ability to track, identify, and characterise space objects.
“Space domain awareness is foundational to responsible space operations and it is essential for responding to activity in space, whether that activity is routine or hostile,” Dr Plumb explained.
DARC offers higher sensitivity, better accuracy, increased capacity, and more agile tracking than current radars capable of tracking objects in geosynchronous Earth orbit.
The capability will leverage an ability to provide global monitoring that extends beyond inclement weather and daylight, which are limitations of current ground-based optical systems. The capability will also be used to protect the essential services that rely on satellites and communication from space, including everyday aspects of modern life such as mobile phones and TV.
The importance of the DARC network was expanded upon by UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, who said, “As the world becomes more contested and the danger of space warfare increases, the UK and our allies must ensure we have the advanced capabilities we need to keep our nations safe.”
Australia’s Chief of Joint Capabilities, Lieutenant General John Frewen, added, “From its Australian site, the DARC will integrate with other DARC sites in the United States and the United Kingdom. This will provide a space domain awareness capability to deter nations from undertaking activities that are against Australia’s interests by providing continuous global detection and observation of satellites in space.
“Working with our AUKUS partners continues to deliver advanced military capabilities contributing to a safe, more secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” LTGEN Frewen explained.
AUKUS has accelerated the delivery of the DARC initiative and DARC will improve interoperability between the AUKUS partners, a key priority of the AUKUS Advanced Capabilities Program, termed “Pillar II”," which is a bold, generational opportunity for AUKUS to harness and uplift innovation enterprises and industries, remove barriers to cooperation and together, develop advanced capabilities for Australian and allied warfighters.
