In December 2023, the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia announced the creation of the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) programme. DARC will enable detection, identification and tracking of objects in Earth orbit. The Ministry of Defence is proposing to locate the UK’s DARC site at the former Cawdor Barracks in Pembrokeshire, refurbishing the location to host the new facilities.
A statutory pre‑application consultation was held between February and March 2026. The Ministry of Defence reviewed all public submissions, incorporating relevant feedback into the formal planning application.
In April 2026, the MOD submitted a planning application to Pembrokeshire County Council for the radar antennas and associated infrastructure. In July 2026, Welsh Ministers directed that the application be decided at the national level rather than by the local council. The MOD continues to support the Welsh Government’s decision‑making process.
Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability Pre-Application Consultation
About DARC
DARC will be the cornerstone of the United Kingdom’s Space Domain Awareness capability. It will detect, identify and track objects in Earth orbit, including satellites, space debris and asteroids. Such awareness is essential for the safe and secure operation of space‑based services that underpin critical UK infrastructure, as outlined in the Government’s UK Space Strategy.
The system will support vital space infrastructure that enables commerce, utility logistics, weather forecasting, agriculture, environmental monitoring and national resilience. It also underpins everyday services such as navigation, broadband internet, satellite cellular communications and precise timekeeping.
The MOD plans to house the main UK DARC facility at Cawdor Barracks in Pembrokeshire. Together with sites in the United States and Australia, the three‑site network will provide 360° sky coverage at all times and under any weather conditions—something currently unavailable. This capability is therefore critical to the resilience of the UK and its allies.
By keeping Cawdor Barracks operational beyond its planned closure in 2028, DARC will generate employment and upskilling opportunities for the local community. Roles will span operations management, information technology, high‑performance computing, human resources, logistics and facilities.
DARC aerial view showing a layout of the radar antennae on the disused airfield alongside the existing buildings at Cawdor Barracks. MOD Crown Copyright.
What is non‑ionising radiation?
DARC operates by bouncing radio waves off objects in space to detect, track and characterise them.
The radio waves used by DARC are non‑ionising radiation. Because they lack sufficient energy to cause ionisation, they are not hazardous to health. Radio waves are routinely employed in household devices such as mobile phones, Wi‑Fi and GPS.
MOD safety procedures ensure that DARC meets or exceeds international environmental and health standards for non‑ionising radiation, including those established by the International Commission on Non‑Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Exposure levels in the vicinity of the DARC site will be equal to or lower than those experienced from using a mobile phone, posing no risk to the public.
Public engagement
The Ministry of Defence carried out a statutory pre‑application consultation on its proposed DARC site at Cawdor Barracks, Pembrokeshire, in line with the Planning (Wales) Act 2015. The consultation ran from 11:59 p.m. on 23 February 2026 until 11:59 p.m. on 23 March 2026. All responses were reviewed and incorporated into the planning submission where appropriate.
Subsequent to the consultation, the MOD commissioned an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The study, supported by independent experts, evaluates potential environmental effects and ensures that ecological concerns are fully addressed in the planning process.
What happens next?
Feedback from stakeholders and the local community was evaluated together with the EIA findings and other technical assessments to refine the proposal. The MOD submitted a formal planning application to Pembrokeshire County Council in 2026, including detailed documentation and a summary of how consultation comments were addressed. Welsh Ministers have directed that the application be decided by the Welsh Government, a process the MOD continues to support.
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