Serco has been awarded a five-year Ministry of Defence contract to continue operating, maintaining and sustaining the early warning radar at RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire, according to the company.
The contract, awarded by the National Armaments Director Group, covers the Solid State Phased Array Radar, or SSPAR, which forms part of the UK and US governments’ Upgraded Early Warning Radar network.
The new agreement will begin in April 2027 and includes an option for a further two-year extension.
RAF Fylingdales provides missile warning and space surveillance functions, with the radar designed to detect and track missiles as part of the US Missile Defence ground-based radar network. Serco provides continuous support at the site 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Under the new contract it will remain responsible for radar hardware, systems operation and maintenance, alongside analytical and training activities.
The company said the Fylingdales team is also involved in tracking objects in Low Earth Orbit. During 2025, the SSPAR completed more than 5.9 million tracks of satellites in Low Earth Orbit, with Serco personnel providing real-time analysis of satellite break-ups, re-entries, new launches and manoeuvres.
Anthony Kirby, Serco Group Chief Executive, said: “We are immensely proud of our dedicated team at RAF Fylingdales who are entrusted to seamlessly deliver this continuous service, helping to defend the nation and protect our skies.”
He added: “We have a long history over sixty years supporting the UK Space Command, US Space Force and the Royal Air Force at RAF Fylingdales, with our people at the heart of this critical infrastructure asset.”
Kirby said: “Our success in securing this contract reflects the strength of our expertise and growing capabilities in defence and builds on our recent strong momentum.”
The contract will also introduce a new Serco-developed analytical system known as the Enhanced Spacetrack Processor, or ESP. The software will be used to analyse large volumes of tracking data to determine the position, orbit and size of objects in Low Earth Orbit. Serco developed ESP with the Royal Air Force and UK Space Command. It will replace the United Kingdom Spacetrack Processor, another Serco-developed system which has been used for more than three decades.
The company will also provide apprenticeships during the contract period. These will include Level 3 opportunities for school and college leavers and Level 5 and 6 apprenticeships for existing employees. Serco has partnered with Teesside University and Redcar & Cleveland College to develop an apprenticeship specifically for RAF Fylingdales, covering skills and qualifications relevant to work at the site.
