NSpOC: Sovereign Sensor - Active RF Radar Capability

**This notice supercedes UK3 Planned Procurement Notice reference 2026/S 000-009745, which was issued on 3rd February 2026. Please note the timetable provided remains indicative and subject to internal approvals**

The UK Space Agency (UKSA), as part of the National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC) programme, intends to commence a competitive procurement for the deployment of a sovereign, high‑power (~1 MW class) space surveillance radar in the Southern Hemisphere (final location is still to be determined but bidders should note the requirement to deploy into the Southern Hemisphere) to enhance the UK's Space Surveillance & Tracking (SST) and Space Domain Awareness (SDA) capability.

It is expected that the radar system will operate as a key national asset, providing enhanced detection, tracking and custody of resident space objects, particularly small-size debris and operational satellites in Low Earth Orbit. It will deliver significant improvements to UK resilience, space safety, collision avoidance, re-entry monitoring, fragmentation detection, and wider civil-military situational awareness objectives.

The radar shall be capable of detecting a target with radar cross-section of -22 dBsm (approx. 5cm) at 1,000 km slant range, with probability of detection Pd ≥ 95% and probability of false alarm Pfa ≤ 10⁻⁵, using a Swerling 3 target fluctuation model with a maximum of 100ms integration time. The system shall produce Azimuth (0.01°), Elevation (0.01°), Range (10m), Range Rate (~0.1 m/s) and Radar Cross Section (supplier in m2) measurements. Values in brackets are 1 sigma uncertainties. The requirement is for 24 hour remote, autonomous operation and achieving 10,000 tracks per day at a minimum (equivalent to 417 tracks per hour).

The budget for this hardware requirement is capped at £25,000,000 exclusive of VAT and will cover the following elements:

• Radar hardware (including, but not limited to, antenna systems, signal generation/timing/processing hardware, power systems, cooling and thermal management)
• Radar software (noting the Authority is likely to specify software covers both edge and cloud elements, with a 10 year licence including free security and basic maintenance updates)
• Software development to integrate software with wider Government systems (including capture and implementation of user stories/change requests to better exploit the equipment provided)
• Two separate training courses - one focused on tasking/sensor capabilities and one focused on hardware support and maintenance
• Obtaining spectrum rights and permissions: whilst the Authority will support the appointed contractor with this, responsibility will rest with the appointed contractor
• Software and hardware support and maintenance for the initial 3 year contract term
• Cyber assurance
• Project and contract management (including interface with the infrastructure contractor)
• Collaboration around installation and commissioning at final deployment location

The following is currently expected to be in scope of the infrastructure and enabling works contract, which is expected to be valued at £5,000,000 exclusive of VAT. Prospective bidders should note that at least some staff are likely to require SC or DV clearance for this requirement. To assist prospective bidders with planning, an indicative requirements list is provided below. Depending on final deployment location, some of these elements may not be required:

• Planning investigation and, if required, planning consents
• Site surveys and ground works (including environmental and site safety surveys)
• Enabling works to prepare the site for radar deployment (e.g. construction of concrete base)
• Site civils and foundations (design and build)
• Power and data connectivity
• Potential utilities connections as required (e.g. drainage)
• Collaboration around installation and commissioning at final deployment location
• Temporary or permanent access to site, as required
• Site security (e.g. perimeter fencing, CCTV, gates)
• Site support
• Project and contract management (including interface with the radar hardware contractor)

The following is expected to be in scope of neither contract

• Ongoing utilities costs
• Spare components (the radar contractor will be expected to include in the pricing schedule the cost of spare components)

A suitable location for deployment has been identified but discussions cannot progress further until the actual equipment specification and characteristics are known. The appointed contractor will therefore be required to work closely with the Contracting Authority and the appointed infrastructure contractor to ensure successful deployment. Bidders will be provided with details of the broad location and constraining assumptions at PSQ stage to assist with technical responses, but should note the final location is unlikely to be disclosed until tender stage. The Contracting Authority will only enter into discussions relating to deployment locations with bidders under NDA, noting that detailed discussions will not be possible at SQ stage.

Please note the Contracting Authority will not respond to any further queries raised on the technical specification or conditions of participation at this point: these will need to be raised as formal clarifications at PSQ stage via the e-tendering portal.