Thales to Develop AURORE, Europe’s Largest Low-Orbit Space Surveillance Radar, for the French Defence Procurement Agency

AURORE, a new solution for spatial monitoring and situation assessment, chosen by France © Thales

(IN BRIEF) Thales has received a contract from France’s Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) to develop AURORE, a new low Earth orbit surveillance radar under the ARES program (Action and Space Resilience). Designed and built in France, AURORE will be Europe’s largest space radar, providing continuous real-time monitoring of satellites and space debris. The system, operating in the UHF band, is software-defined and modular, offering multi-object tracking and high-resolution situational awareness. It also sets the stage for a broader radar family to support protection against emerging ballistic and hypersonic threats. Thales CEO Patrice Caine emphasized that AURORE reinforces French and European sovereignty in space defense and surveillance capabilities.

(PRESS RELEASE) LA DÉFENSE, 28-Oct-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Thales has been awarded a major contract by the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) to design, deliver, and deploy AURORE, a new-generation ground-based radar system for low Earth orbit (LEO) space surveillance. The project is part of France’s ARES (Action and Space Resilience) program and represents a pivotal step in strengthening the nation’s sovereignty and defense capabilities in the increasingly strategic domain of space.

AURORE — the first radar of its kind in Europe — will continuously monitor and track satellites and orbital debris, providing France with real-time situational awareness in low orbit. Designed to handle simultaneous multi-object tracking, the system will enhance France’s ability to assess the space environment and detect potential threats. Once operational, AURORE will become Europe’s largest space surveillance radar, reinforcing the country’s leadership in space situational awareness and defense technology.

Developed at Thales’ Limours site, AURORE leverages advanced radar engineering and partnerships with several French small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The radar operates in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band and features a software-defined architecture, allowing for flexible upgrades, rapid response times, and high-resolution imaging of space activity. Its modular design ensures adaptability for future missions, forming the foundation for a new family of UHF radars capable of addressing evolving threats, including ballistic and hypersonic weapons.

“With AURORE, the only radar of its kind in Europe, Thales is contributing to French sovereignty by strengthening its capabilities for monitoring the space environment at low orbits,” said Patrice Caine, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Thales. “This project once again demonstrates Thales’ technological leadership and commitment to advancing Europe’s air and space surveillance systems.”

As the militarization of space intensifies and the amount of orbital debris continues to grow, AURORE will play a crucial role in protecting European and French assets in orbit. By providing continuous, high-precision tracking of small space objects, it ensures both enhanced operational awareness and long-term resilience for space missions.

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

The Group invests more than €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies. Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion.

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SOURCE: Thales