Beyond the Board: Early Engagement Means Faster Prototyping for Defense Programs
Defense Speak Interpreted: The Autonomous Plane Battle—Skyborg Vs. Loyal Wingman
American Made Advocacy: Congress Back from Break With Work To Do
Northrop Grumman Integrates Multiple Antennas to Track Satellites in First-Time USSF DARC Demo
August 19, 2025 | Northrop GrummanEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Northrop Grumman Corporation and U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Deep-Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) successfully combined the capability of multiple ground-based antennas at DARC Site 1 in Western Australia, demonstrating technology that will create the world’s most capable deep-space tracking radar system.
DARC’s calibrated antenna arrays operated as a single system to successfully characterize the movement of multiple satellites and demonstrate the effectiveness of the system’s precision radar tracking technology. This is a significant step forward as the system progresses towards Site 1’s completion and operational capability.
During its demonstration, DARC successfully:
- Utilized seven of the 27 antennas at DARC Site 1, bringing the program a significant step closer to full capability.
- Demonstrated mission-enabling technology capable of tracking spacecraft that present potential threats to space assets or the U.S. homeland and allies.
- Sustained a multi-week campaign of data collection, analysis, and adjustment to confirm successful calibration and operational capability.
DARC is a partnership between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, designed to create an all-weather, global system to track very small objects in geosynchronous orbit (GEO) to protect critical U.S. and allied satellite services. Once complete, DARC will track the movement of objects in, to, and from GEO with the highest precision, an effective and critical capability for threat detection and mitigation. By leveraging a unique design consisting of multiple ground-based antennas operating together as one, DARC provides unmatched capabilities to enable the USSF’s Space Domain Awareness mission.
Expert:
Kevin Giammo, director, Space Surveillance and Environmental Intelligence, Northrop Grumman: “Northrop Grumman’s DARC will provide a strategic advantage at a scale never before achieved in global space domain awareness. Its ability to track multiple small moving objects over 22,000 miles above earth will offer unmatched persistent and comprehensive capability as the world’s premier deep-space radar tracking system.”
Share on:
Testimonial
"We’re proud to call I-Connect007 a trusted partner. Their innovative approach and industry insight made our podcast collaboration a success by connecting us with the right audience and delivering real results."
Julia McCaffrey - NCAB GroupSuggested Items
The Republic of Korea Selects L3Harris for Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft Program
10/20/2025 | BUSINESS WIREL3Harris Technologies has received a contract to deliver modified Bombardier Global 6500 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft to the Republic of Korea Air Force.
SemiQon's Cryogenic Chip Technology for Quantum Computing and Space Applications Receives Award from EARTO
10/17/2025 | PRNewswireEARTO, the organisation of the European Research and Technology Organisations, awarded SemiQon and VTT first prize in the "Impact Expected" category on 14 October 2025 in Brussels for a pioneering cryogenic CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) chip innovation.
Molex Announces Agreement to Acquire Smiths Interconnect
10/17/2025 | MolexMolex, a leading global electronics connectivity innovator, announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Smiths Interconnect.
SemiQon's Cryogenic Chip Technology for Quantum Computing and Space Applications Receives Award from EARTO
10/16/2025 | PRNewswireEARTO, the organisation of the European Research and Technology Organisations, awarded SemiQon and VTT first prize in the "Impact Expected" category on 14 October 2025 in Brussels for a pioneering cryogenic CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) chip innovation.
Light-curable Solutions for Reliable Electronics in Space Applications
10/15/2025 | Virginia Hogan, DymaxDesigning electronics for space environments, particularly those in low Earth orbit (LEO), requires careful consideration of materials that can withstand extreme conditions while supporting long-term reliability. Engineers designing satellite systems, aerospace instrumentation, and high-altitude platforms face a familiar set of challenges: contamination control, mechanical stress, thermal cycling, and manufacturability.