General Atomics

BAE Systems to advance autonomous space-based surveillance tech for DARPA

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded BAE Systems’ FAST Labs research, development and production organisation a $16 million Phase 2 contract for the Oversight programme.



Image courtesy BAE Systems

The Oversight programme is focused on creating an autonomous system that keeps track, or maintains constant ‘custody’, of a large number of terrestrial assets via new satellite constellations.

The award follows the successful completion of the Phase 1 program. During Phase 1, BAE Systems’ software was integrated into a modeling and simulation environment to demonstrate a custody mission on representative satellite and sensor models. In Phase 2, BAE Systems will mature its solution algorithms and demonstrate operation with increasingly larger constellations, more complex scenarios, and higher fidelity modeling and simulation environments. The technology will be physically deployed to both tactical-edge satellites and ground stations.

“Future mission requirements are pushing capabilities to the tactical edge,” said Dr. Ben Cooper, senior principal scientist at BAE Systems’ FAST Labs research organisation. “In space, this means operating primarily on-board satellites. Through this program, we will help make the space domain more tactically relevant for warfighters.”

The deployment of the software and algorithms developed on the Oversight program on board proliferated networked satellite constellations enables persistent surveillance at tactical timescales. Space-based coordination and data processing delivers lower latency and higher revisit rates enabling near real-time tracking. The increased scale, availability, and timeliness of information derived from space enhances warfighter situational awareness and speeds up decision making.

Work on this programme will take place at BAE Systems’ facilities in Burlington, Massachusetts and Merrimack, New Hampshire. It will also include collaboration with subcontractor AIMdyn, Inc.

Related

Leeds Bradford offers air conditioning units to residents to tackle night-time flight noise
Leeds Bradford Airport terminal
Leeds Bradford offers air conditioning units to residents to tackle night-time flight noise
Leeds Bradford Airport could help nearby residents pay for bedroom air conditioning as part of plans to overhaul its night flight noise rules.
Aerospace

25 Aug 2026

Airlines consider judicial review in battle over Heathrow third runway plans
London Heathrow Airport third runway
Airlines consider judicial review in battle over Heathrow third runway plans
Any new legal action that might ensue is likely to delay the start of construction of the new facility even further.
Aerospace

25 Aug 2026

FAC eyes larger Farnborough presence after record airshow demand
Farnborough International AIrshow 2026
FAC eyes larger Farnborough presence after record airshow demand
Farnborough Aerospace Consortium says demand for its 2028 Farnborough Airshow stand is already close to capacity after a record presence at this year’s event.
Aerospace Defence

24 Aug 2026

Inside the £7.1bn transformation of Devonport, the Royal Navy’s future powerhouse
His Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport
Inside the £7.1bn transformation of Devonport, the Royal Navy’s future powerhouse
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has visited HMNB Devonport as the Royal Navy prepares the base for Type 26 frigates, submarine support and autonomous systems.
Defence

25 Aug 2026

UK secures access to Ukraine’s Avengers AI Labs in major defence technology agreement with Kyiv
Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Zelensky
UK secures access to Ukraine’s Avengers AI Labs in major defence technology agreement with Kyiv
Ukraine has given the UK access to a "goldmine" of battlefield data that could help shape the next generation of UK defence and security technologies.
Defence

25 Aug 2026

Babcock advances Anglo-Danish naval cooperation
Babcock: DALO Days
Babcock advances Anglo-Danish naval cooperation
Babcock has extended its Danish partnerships through agreements focused on frigates, autonomous systems and future naval capabilities.
Defence Events Member News

25 Aug 2026

STFC reveals latest Ernest Rutherford Fellows
space nebula
STFC reveals latest Ernest Rutherford Fellows
Backed by an investment of £6 million, seven early-career physicists have been awarded Ernest Rutherford Fellowship’s by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), supporting research, from the search for dark matter to the physics of black holes.
Space

25 Aug 2026

Austrian ENPULSION moves to acquire UK space propulsion specialist Lift Me Off
Enpulsion space propulsion manufacturer buys UK company lift me off
Austrian ENPULSION moves to acquire UK space propulsion specialist Lift Me Off
Austrian spacecraft propulsion manufacturer ENPULSION has agreed to acquire British specialist Lift Me Off, bringing together electric and chemical propulsion capabilities in a deal that will require UK Government approval.
Member News Space

21 Aug 2026

Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone gains £300m investment as Dell establishes Scottish base
Lanarkshire’s AI Innovation Park
Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone gains £300m investment as Dell establishes Scottish base
A £202 million guarantee from the UK National Wealth Fund has attracted an investment of £300 million in Lanarkshire's AI Growth Zone, which with Dell Technologies establishing a base there too, is set to support over 3,400 skilled jobs.
Serco to support prison infrastructure at Christchurch Men’s Prison
Rachel Leota, New Zealand​ Department of Corrections Chief Executive and Ben Tracey, Serco Asia Pacific Director Facilities Management and Public Private Partnerships
Serco to support prison infrastructure at Christchurch Men’s Prison
As the New Zealand Government looks to add much needed capacity to its prison system, it has selected Serco to provide facilities management and maintenance services to support a safe and resilient prison infrastructure at Christchurch Men’s Prison.
Member News Security

25 Aug 2026

UK defence jobs jump by 26,000 as MoD spending supports 274,000 workers
UK defence jobs jump by 26,000 as MoD spending supports 274,000 workers
Ministry of Defence spending with UK industry now supports one in every 100 jobs, according to new figures.
Defence Security

21 Aug 2026

Darktrace among first cybersecurity firms selected to integrate risk signals into Microsoft Agent 365
Using laptop and mobile phone
Darktrace among first cybersecurity firms selected to integrate risk signals into Microsoft Agent 365
The integration will bring Darktrace's behavioural risk signals into Microsoft Agent 365, enabling customers to view organisation-specific insights alongside Microsoft signals in a single interface.
Security

20 Aug 2026