Array Labs Raises $21 Million to Scale Orbital Radar Tracking with Mitsubishi Electric
The US space tech startup is partnering with the Japanese industrial giant to deploy distributed radar satellites for defense monitoring in the Asia-Pacific.
US space tech startup Array Labs has raised $21 million in a funding round anchored by Mitsubishi Electric to advance its orbital tracking capabilities. The investment signals a strategic pivot toward deploying space-based surveillance systems for defense and security customers, specifically targeting Japan and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
Array Labs is developing space-based Airborne Moving Target Indication (AMTI), a technology designed to detect and track moving objects, such as aircraft and missiles, from orbit. Unlike traditional Earth observation, which relies on static imagery, Array Labs utilizes a distributed sensor approach. This involves deploying clusters of smaller radar satellites that fly in formation to function as a single, cohesive sensing system. To bring this technology to orbit, the company has planned two launches for 2025, scheduled for April and October, followed by two payload launches in mid-2027.
The Shift to Dynamic Tracking
Traditional satellite surveillance has long been limited by the inability to monitor fast-moving targets in real time over vast areas. Array Labs is attempting to fill this gap by shifting the industry toward dynamic tracking. This effort aligns with a broader military trend toward orbital radar layers to supplement existing ground and aircraft sensors. The strategic demand for such capabilities is evidenced by similar high-value initiatives, including a $4.16 billion agreement between the US Space Force and SpaceX for space-based airborne tracking.
Strategic Implications for Asia-Pacific
The partnership with Mitsubishi Electric provides Array Labs with more than just capital; it offers a gateway to critical manufacturing capabilities and established defense-sales channels in Asia. By leveraging Mitsubishi's footprint, Array Labs can more effectively transition its technology from experimental research to procurable government products. If successful, the system would enable continuous, real-time monitoring of contested airspace and remote maritime zones where conventional surveillance is currently limited or unavailable.
A Proven Research Pedigree
While the company is now scaling for commercial and regional deployment, its technical foundation is built on high-level government validation. Array Labs has already secured research contracts with a wide array of US defense agencies, including DARPA, the US Navy, the US Air Force, the US Army, and the Special Operations Command (SOCOM). The current funding round marks a transition from these early research milestones toward the operational deployment of its distributed radar constellations.