Thales Win Contract to Build Europe’s First AURORE Space Surveillance Radar under France’s ARES Programme

France has taken a significant step in strengthening its space capabilities with Thales being awarded a contract by the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) to develop and deploy AURORE, a new ground-based radar system designed to detect, track, and catalogue satellites and debris in low Earth orbit (LEO). The project is part of the ARES (Action et Résilience Spatiale) programme, which aims to enhance France’s space situational awareness and resilience against orbital challenges.

The AURORE radar system will be one of the largest space surveillance radars in Europe, capable of real-time detection and tracking of multiple space objects simultaneously. Unlike optical systems, which depend on daylight and clear skies, AURORE will operate continuously and in all weather conditions, providing reliable coverage from Earth.

Europe’s First Dedicated Radar for Low Earth Orbit

AURORE is the first European system designed specifically to monitor low Earth orbit, the region up to about 2,000 kilometers above the planet’s surface. This zone hosts most modern satellites, including those used for communications, Earth observation, and defense. It is also the most crowded region, filled with active satellites and large amounts of debris. Monitoring LEO is essential for collision avoidance, satellite management, and identifying unusual orbital activity.

Until now, Europe’s ability to independently track small, fast-moving objects in LEO has been limited. AURORE will close this gap by allowing France and Europe to monitor and catalogue satellites and debris with greater accuracy, reducing dependence on non-European data sources.

Understanding “Space” in AURORE

The “space” in AURORE refers to space situational awareness (SSA) — the capability to observe, track, and understand activities in Earth’s orbital environment. This includes identifying satellites, detecting debris, and monitoring orbital events such as breakups or maneuvers. Information collected by AURORE will support France’s military space command (Commandement de l’Espace) and contribute to European space safety efforts.

Technology and Capability

Thales will apply its expertise in radar design and signal processing to build a high-performance system with advanced detection and tracking features. AURORE is expected to use active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar technology, enabling it to follow numerous objects across wide sections of the sky with precision. The system will also assist in space traffic management, helping operators predict potential collisions and plan avoidance maneuvers.

Supporting European Space Autonomy

For France, AURORE is part of a broader effort to improve European space sovereignty. Under the ARES programme, the radar will enhance national and regional capacity for independent space surveillance and contribute data to the European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking (EU SST) framework. This will improve coordination and information sharing across European countries.

Once operational, AURORE will become Europe’s first dedicated ground-based radar for low Earth orbit surveillance. It will allow France and Europe to track satellites and debris more accurately, supporting both defense and civil space activities.

With AURORE, France aims to ensure that European assets in orbit are better protected and that future operations in space remain safe and sustainable.