The United States Space Force (USSF) has selected LeoLabs, a prominent commercial provider of space situational awareness (SSA) and mapping services, to further enhance its next-generation mobile radar system. According to a company announcement, this partnership will focus on expanding the capabilities of LeoLabs’ “Scout-class” radar to detect and track space launches.

The initiative is designed to leverage LeoLabs’ commercial technology to bolster the Space Force’s capacity for space domain awareness. A press release from LeoLabs mentioned that the collaboration aims to mature the expeditionary S-band Direct Radiating Array (DRA) radar system, which is uniquely containerized for rapid global deployment. This mobility is a key feature, allowing the radar to be transported and set up quickly in response to dynamic mission requirements, including the monitoring of foreign launch activities.

This effort builds upon the introduction of the Scout radar, which was unveiled as a “game changer for advanced SDA” by LeoLabs CEO Tony Frazier earlier this year. The company stated that mobile radars provide the agility needed to adapt to evolving threats by being deployable wherever and whenever they are most needed.

The development of the Scout system is part of a broader strategy by LeoLabs to create a resilient, low-latency network for what it terms “persistent Orbital Intelligence.” By integrating these new mobile systems with its existing global network of legacy and next-generation radars, LeoLabs aims to enhance its ability to detect, track, and characterize objects and activities in space across various orbital regimes. The announcement underscores how commercial innovation is being harnessed to support critical national security missions, ensuring a safer and more transparent space environment.