AURORE will provide real-time tracking of multiple space objects simultaneously, offering continuous monitoring from Earth. The system is set to become the largest space surveillance radar deployed in Europe.
The increasing militarisation of space has created a pressing need for enhanced surveillance and early detection capabilities. AURORE addresses this by delivering “unprecedented detection capabilities to enhance military space surveillance missions of activities in low orbit.”
Manufactured at Thales’ Limours site, the system draws on collaboration with several French SMEs. The company highlights the radar’s role in advancing both technological autonomy and operational sovereignty.
AURORE is a software-defined radar operating in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band, capable of rapid responsiveness to low orbit activity. It generates a high-resolution real-time picture of the space environment, which is vital for situational awareness.
The radar’s modular design will support the development of a broader family of UHF radars for multiple mission needs. These include defence against emerging threats such as ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
“With AURORE, the only radar of its kind in Europe, Thales is contributing to French sovereignty by strengthening its capabilities for monitoring the space environment at low orbits. AURORE demonstrates, once again, Thales’ leadership in the field of air and space surveillance systems,” said Patrice Caine, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Thales.
