LeoLabs wins $14M contract to boost space surveillance in the Indo-Pacific region

The contract is part of a $60 million strategic funding package awarded to LeoLabs by SpaceWERX, the Space Force's innovation arm. The aim is to develop and deploy a radar based on a direct-beam planar array antenna by 2027. This radar will enable early detection of foreign launches, track highly maneuverable space objects and improve space situational awareness in the Indo-Pacific region. Complementing its fixed radars, LeoLabs recently unveiled "Scout", a mobile radar designed for rapid deployment in a variety of environments, including on ships. This flexibility meets the growing need for surveillance in remote areas or at sea, particularly in the face of increasing numbers of unannounced space launches.

LeoLabs, founded in 2016 and based in Menlo Park, California, specializes in space surveillance and space traffic management. The company operates a global network of ground-based radars, including in Alaska, Arizona, Texas, Australia, Azores, Costa Rica and New Zealand. It tracks more than 23,000 objects in orbit and provides services to government agencies, commercial operators and the armed forces. The Californian company's radars and expertise are highly acclaimed, having boosted sales by 140% between 2023 and 2024.