DARC is a global network of three ground-based space sensors designed to support space domain awareness out to geosynchronous orbit. According to the Space Force, the system enables tactical timelines and supports multiple space control kill chains through cooperation between the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.
The capability is being employed through the Early Use concept, which allows operational use while testing and evaluation activities continue. Early Use operations are currently being conducted from the 20th Space Surveillance Squadron’s Integrated Radar Operations Center at Eglin Air Force Base.
“The Space Force is all-in on delivering capabilities as soon as they provide a warfighting advantage and then upgrading them as we learn from real-world operations,” said Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, during a recent visit to the 20th Space Surveillance Squadron. “The work the 20th Space Surveillance Squadron and Mission Delta 2 are doing with ST-25 is a prime example of these principles in action.”
According to the Space Force, DARC provides all three partner nations with critical space domain awareness capabilities needed to address emerging threats in an increasingly congested orbital environment. The service said the system offers improved sensitivity, higher accuracy, increased capacity and more agile tracking performance.
Officials stated that the Early Use approach has allowed military utility to be delivered ahead of the original operational acceptance schedule. The phased implementation is intended to balance initial operational requirements with ongoing contractor development activities.
“Getting this capability into the hands of our Guardians sooner rather than later is a significant win,” said Barry Croker, commander of Mission Delta 2 – Space Domain Awareness. “The Early Use phase has already provided invaluable opportunity for system familiarization, development of initial training requirements, and early identification of potential operational gaps, all of which ultimately accelerate our readiness.”
The DARC programme operates under a trilateral memorandum of understanding involving the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. According to the Space Force, the initiative is intended to provide enhanced space domain awareness ahead of schedule while collecting operational feedback to support future development.
The system is designed to continuously track, identify and characterise space objects in orbit. The Space Force stated that the capability supports freedom of access in space, improves space traffic management and helps hold foreign actors accountable for activities conducted in orbit.
“Coordination with our allies, as well as our U.S. Space Force teammates in Space Systems Command, has enabled our team at the 20th Space Surveillance Squadron to prove the value of the DARC initiative,” said Derek Haun, commander of the 20th Space Surveillance Squadron. “Operating ST-25 maximizes our ability to monitor the deep space domain in support of global operations and space domain awareness that benefits the U.S. and our allies.”
According to the Space Force, the three allied nations are jointly developing and operating the radar system to improve the sharing of global sensor data and strengthen command-and-control interoperability. Officials stated that the shared capability is intended to reinforce deterrence and protect critical national infrastructure against evolving security challenges in space.
The Space Force said the Early Use agreement demonstrates a collaborative effort to accelerate delivery of advanced space-tracking capabilities to operational forces. The programme prioritises final operational acceptance while providing preliminary capabilities to warfighters earlier than originally plan