The final location for the DARC deep-space tracking system will complete a global sensor array alongside bases in Wales and Western Australia.
The US Space Force has selected Lake Kickapoo in central Texas as the third and final site for the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC), a joint space-tracking initiative developed under the AUKUS partnership between Australia, the UK, and the United States.
Pending final planning approvals, the Texas facility will complete a trilateral network of advanced ground-based sensors designed to monitor objects in geosynchronous orbit (GEO) roughly 22,000 miles above Earth. The UK base is planned for Cawdor Barracks (formerly RAF Brawdy) in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
“Selecting Texas as the preferred location for the final DARC site keeps us on track to deliver a truly global deep-space sensing network with our closest allies,” said Chief of Space Operations General Douglas Schiess, noting that the system will bolster visibility in space and protect critical satellite infrastructure.
The project is governed by a 22-year memorandum of understanding between the three nations, with the US Space Force acting as the lead agency. Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, Dr Erich “HB” Hernandez-Baquero, stated that completing the three-site network architecture will provide sustained long-term space domain awareness.
The US Space Force accelerated DARC’s operational timeline to counter increasing orbital traffic and potential adversary threats. The overall programme achieved an “Early Use” designation for US Space Command in September 2025.
DARC Site 1, located on Western Australia’s Exmouth Peninsula, was completed in December 2024 and commenced early operations in 2025. The Pembrokeshire installation remains subject to local planning consent.
According to the Space Force, DARC offers five core operational advantages: continuous 24/7 monitoring, all-weather functionality independent of atmospheric conditions, the longest detection range of any ground-based radar, maximum detail resolution, and full global orbital coverage enabled by its three-nation distribution.
