MAUI — In response to rising demand from US allies for “sovereign” military space capabilities, space tracking company LeoLabs is altering its marketing strategy. The firm plans to directly offer its new mobile radar system, Scout-S, to government entities.
LeoLabs CEO Tony Frazier explained that the company will operate Scout for clients or provide them with priority access to the radar services. Additionally, the firm is considering options for government ownership.
Frazier mentioned that talks are ongoing with over a dozen allied nations, with at least one expressing interest in multiple units. However, the price per unit remains undisclosed.
Scout-S, which can fit into a standard shipping container, made its debut during the US Indo-Pacific Command’s Valiant Shield exercise in late June. The radar can detect and continuously track multiple space objects between very low Earth orbit (VLEO) and up to about 1,000 kilometers in altitude—an area where many of China’s intelligence satellites currently operate.
Next year, LeoLabs plans to produce Scout-S units in the “single digits,” aiming to scale to “dozens” in subsequent years.
To enhance its network of 12 larger radar sites worldwide, LeoLabs will deploy multiple Scout-S radars to fill existing gaps in space situational awareness—vital as satellite maneuverability increases and more satellites engage in complex operations like on-orbit repairs.
Frazier emphasized the shift from occasional observations to continuous monitoring of space objects, noting the increasing importance of maintaining persistent custody over various satellites.
