On Thursday, July 9, 2026, the U.S. Space Force’s Space Rapid Capabilities Office (SpaceRCO) selected Innovative Signal Analysis (ISA), a subsidiary of HawkEye 360 Inc., to develop an adaptable radar-warning sensor payload.
Delivered under a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Direct-to-Phase II award, the project focuses on constructing a space-based payload configured to detect and characterize radio-frequency emissions originating from ground-based tracking radars.
Payload Architecture and Processing Parameters
The new sensor architecture leverages advanced hardware to detect ground emissions targeted at assets in high orbits:
- Orbit Classification: The payload is specifically engineered for small satellite platforms operating within the geosynchronous orbit (GEO) environment.
- Processor Integration: The system incorporates ISA’s Generation 3 Payload Processor, which provides high-performance electronic signal capture alongside secure, real-time onboard processing capabilities.
- Design Footprint: The configuration relies on a low size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) architecture optimized to integrate onto diverse host satellite form factors without requiring extensive structural redesigns.
The baseline signal processing algorithms were previously validated in low Earth orbit (LEO) via the ENCORE experimental payload, which successfully geolocated and mapped operational radar targets from its position aboard the International Space Station.
Expanding Space Domain Awareness Capabilities
As space operations grow increasingly congested and contested, SpaceRCO is expanding its threat awareness options beyond legacy ground-based tracking systems. By fielding space-based radar detection, the U.S. Space Force aims to gain real-time visibility into which terrestrial stations are active and tracking military communication or intelligence satellites in high altitudes.
“Maintaining awareness in GEO is critical as adversary capabilities evolve,” noted Todd Probert, Chief Operating Officer of HawkEye 360. Probert added that the initiative establishes a framework to rapidly field adaptable sensing across the military’s space architectures. Beyond dedicated national security tasks, the sensor design offers secondary dual-use value for commercial satellite diagnostic evaluations, orbital traffic management, and general electromagnetic environment characterization.
Transition Timeline and System Validation
The Direct-to-Phase II framework dictates an immediate schedule focused on design maturation, software hardening, and hardware-in-the-loop validation under operationally relevant environments. Following successful environment testing, the program structure outlines a transition roadmap focused on production scalability, opening the payload architecture for future deployment across wider U.S. Space Force and Department of War space assets.
