U.S. Space Force selects Texas for final DARC deep space radar site, targeting 2030 operations
The U.S. Space Force selected Lake Kickapoo, Texas, as the third and final site for its Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC), a trilateral program with the UK and Australia. Construction is set for 2027, with operations targeted for 2030. The first site in Australia was completed in 2024 and cleared for early use in 2025; the second site in Wales is expected to begin construction in April 2026. Northrop Grumman is building the radars.
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Space Force selects Texas as U.S. home for trinational DARC space radar network
The U.S. Space Force has selected Texas as the location for the American site of the multinational Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) network. This will be the third and final site in the trinational program, which also includes installations in Australia and the United Kingdom. According to Breaking Defense, the Space Force expects civil construction on the Texas site to be completed in 2029, with operations beginning in 2030. The DARC network is designed to track objects in deep space, enhancing space domain awareness for the allied nations.
Read sourceSpace Force selects Texas as the U.S. home for the trinational DARC space radar network
The United States Space Force has selected Texas as the location for the third and final site of the trinational Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) network. The DARC network is a collaborative project involving the U.S., Australia, and the United Kingdom, designed to track objects in deep space. According to the Space Force, the Texas site is expected to complete civil construction in 2029 and begin operations in 2030. This selection finalizes the locations for the multi-nation radar network, which aims to enhance space domain awareness and protect allied space assets.
Read sourceSpace Force Selects Texas Site for Deep Space Radar, Targets Operations by 2030
The U.S. Space Force announced on September 9 that it has selected a site in north Texas, at Lake Kickapoo, as the preferred location for the third and final site of its Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC). Pending final approvals, construction is slated to begin in 2027, with operations targeted for 2030. DARC is a trilateral program involving the U.S., United Kingdom, and Australia to provide continuous, all-weather monitoring of geosynchronous orbit. The first site in western Australia was cleared for early operational use in 2025, and the second site in Wales is expected to begin construction in April 2026. The Space Force accelerated the timeline, moving the operational target from 2032 to 2030. The fiscal 2027 budget includes $442 million for the program, with an additional $1.6 billion through fiscal 2031. Chief of Space Operations Gen. Douglas A. Schiess stated the capability will improve visibility in a contested domain and reinforce allied capacity to protect space systems. Northrop Grumman is building the radars. The Lake Kickapoo site previously hosted the transmitter for the old Space Fence system.
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Space Force Selects Texas Site for New Deep Space Radar, Targets Operations in 2030
The U.S. Space Force has selected a site in north Texas, Lake Kickapoo, as the preferred location for the third and final site of its Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC). The announcement was made on September 9. Pending final approvals, construction is set to begin in 2027, with operations targeted for 2030. DARC is a trilateral program involving the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia to monitor geosynchronous orbit up to 22,000 miles above Earth. The three radar sites will provide 24/7, all-weather coverage of the entire GEO belt. The first site in western Australia was completed in 2024 and cleared for early use in 2025. The second site in Wales is expected to begin construction in April 2026. Northrop Grumman is building the radars. The timeline was recently accelerated from a previously reported 2032 goal. The fiscal 2027 budget includes $442 million for the program, with $1.6 billion through 2031. The Lake Kickapoo site previously hosted the transmitter for the old Space Fence system.
Space Force Selects Texas Site for New Deep Space Radar, Targets Operations in 2030
The U.S. Space Force has selected a site in north Texas as the preferred location for the third and final site of its new Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC), the service announced on Sept. 9. Pending final approvals, construction at Lake Kickapoo, Texas, will begin in 2027, with operations targeted for 2030. The DARC program is a trilateral collaboration between the U.S., United Kingdom, and Australia to provide 24/7, all-weather monitoring of geosynchronous orbit. The first site in western Australia was completed in 2024 and cleared for early operational use in 2025. The second site in Wales is expected to begin construction in April 2026. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess, the new Chief of Space Operations, stated that selecting Texas keeps the program on track to deliver a global deep-space sensing network. The timeline was recently accelerated from a previously reported 2032 goal. The Space Force's fiscal 2027 budget request includes $442 million for FY2027 and $1.6 billion through FY2031 for the full program. Northrop Grumman is building the radars. The Lake Kickapoo site previously hosted the transmitter for the old AN/FPS-133 Space Fence system.