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LeoLabs Unveils Mobile Radar for Enhanced Space Object Tracking
COLORADO SPRINGS – LeoLabs, a company based in California specializing in space object tracking, has announced the launch of a portable surveillance radar system. This new system is designed for military clients seeking improved monitoring of low Earth orbit (LEO), particularly as the Pentagon increases its focus on China’s space activities.
The newly introduced system, revealed on April 7 and named “Scout,” is a mobile iteration of the company’s existing network of fixed radar locations. Scout is engineered for transport within a standard-sized container truck, enabling rapid deployment to critical regions, according to LeoLabs Chief Executive Officer Tony Frazier.
Developed through a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract, this system is intended to address limitations within the U.S. military’s current space surveillance infrastructure, Frazier stated. “We are also investigating its potential deployment on maritime platforms,” he added. “Scout can be strategically positioned to respond to contingencies or to monitor specific areas within low Earth orbit requiring enhanced surveillance.”
The introduction of this mobile radar signifies a calculated effort by LeoLabs to strengthen its defense presence, coinciding with increased U.S. efforts to monitor space activities of both China and Russia.
In December, LeoLabs launched an Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radar facility in Arizona to monitor objects in low and very low Earth orbit, including advanced missile threats and hypersonic vehicles. More recently, LeoLabs secured a $60 million public-private partnership, supported by the Small Business Innovation Research program and U.S. Space Command, to establish a UHF radar site in the Indo-Pacific region by 2026.
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Expanding Global Surveillance Network
LeoLabs is integrating these novel sensors into its established global network of phased array radars. These radars are strategically located in Australia, the Azores, Costa Rica, New Zealand, and Texas.
Frazier noted that the company’s expansion is a direct response to the escalating demand for enhanced surveillance capabilities. This demand is driven by the increasing number of mega-constellations in low Earth orbit and the military’s need for technology to track increasingly sophisticated spacecraft.
“We are observing spacecraft exhibiting significant maneuvering capabilities. To effectively detect such activity and maintain tracking of these objects, we are expanding our sensor network,” Frazier explained.
LeoLabs’ mobile radar system also supports missile defense initiatives, further enhancing its value to military clients, he emphasized. The company is actively testing its sensor capabilities to track hypersonic glide vehicles. These vehicles pose a significant challenge for detection and interception due to their high maneuverability and velocity and are considered a critical missile threat.