The U.S. Space Force intends to release a request for proposals by June 30 to develop prototypes of deep space radar sensors that can monitor satellites and space debris in geostationary orbits, SpaceNews reported Sunday.
The Space and Missile Systems Center’s Space Enterprise Consortium plans to select one or more vendors to build prototype concepts for the Deep Space Advanced Radar Concept project that the U.S. Air Force launched in 2017.
The consortium has over 500 members and awards contracts for prototype development work in the form of other transaction authority agreements to speed up the commercial technology procurement process.
The Space Force expects to invest between $140 million and $200 million annually in DARC-related prototyping and testing efforts and plans to build up to three radar sites, according to the report.
