The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded Serco a five-year contract to continue operating and maintaining the country’s long-range ballistic missile-warning radar at RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire.
Under the agreement, Serco will equip the Solid State Phased Array Radar (SSPAR) with the Enhanced Spacetrack Processor (ESP), a data-analysis system developed in collaboration with the Royal Air Force and UK Space Command.
The ESP processes raw radar data to help analysts determine an object’s position, orbit, and size. It will replace the United Kingdom Spacetrack Processor, a Serco-developed system that has been in service for more than three decades.
Early Warning Radar
The SSPAR forms part of the UK and US governments’ Upgraded Early Warning Radar system. It can detect objects as small as a Coke can at distances of up to 3,000 miles (4,828 kilometers) into space.
In 2025, the radar tracked more than 5.9 million objects in Low Earth Orbit, with Serco providing real-time analysis of orbital events.
Serco also delivers round-the-clock support at RAF Fylingdales, maintaining the radar’s hardware and systems while conducting analysis and training activities.
The new contract is scheduled to begin in April 2027 and includes an option for a two-year extension.
