Seattle Startup Aims to Revolutionize Space-Based Radar with Metasurface Antennas
After nearly three years operating under the radar, Seattle-based startup Kapta Space has officially unveiled its mission to transform space-based radar technology. On February 21, the company announced its plans to demonstrate metasurface antenna technology, aiming to tackle one of the most persistent challenges in defense: continuous tracking of moving targets from orbit.
Kapta Space was founded by Milton Perque, previously with Echodyne, and Adam Bily, whose background includes roles at Apple and Astranis. The company has successfully secured $5 million in seed funding to advance its space-based electronically steered radar technology. Leading the investment round was MetaVC Partners—a firm specializing in metamaterials and backed by Bill Gates—with additional contributions from Entrada Ventures and Blue Collective.
Innovating Space-Based Radar
Kapta is leveraging metasurface technology, a breakthrough used in electronically steered antennas for wireless communications, and adapting it for imaging and tracking applications in space.
Metasurface technology manipulates electromagnetic waves through specially engineered ultra-thin materials, allowing for smaller, lighter, and more efficient antennas. By utilizing this technology, Kapta aims to offer a cost-effective and energy-efficient alternative to conventional Active Electronically Steered Arrays (AESAs).
The startup envisions its metasurface-based arrays being deployed in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems for geospatial imaging, as well as military applications, including ground target tracking.
“This isn’t just theoretical research,” said Kapta CEO Milton Perque in an interview with SpaceNews. “This is a highly advanced technology with a strong foundation, proven at scale, and backed by hundreds of millions in private investment.”
With a strong technical background from his tenure at Echodyne, Perque brings a wealth of expertise in metamaterial-based radar systems.
Aiming for the Defense Sector
Kapta is positioning itself primarily within the defense market. In 2023, the company secured a $1.8 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop an electronically steered antenna for spaceborne radar. Kapta was one of several companies awarded funding for this initiative, highlighting the broader interest in advancing space-based radar technology. While others are attempting to develop similar capabilities, they remain relatively late to the field.
A central challenge Kapta aims to solve is Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI)—the ability to track slow-moving targets from space, a capability that has long eluded the defense sector. “GMTI is an incredibly difficult problem, and achieving it at scale from orbit has never been done before,” Perque stated.
Efforts to develop a space-based GMTI system have been attempted before, notably by DARPA, which sought to create a radar satellite constellation for real-time tracking and high-resolution imaging. However, these programs were ultimately abandoned due to high costs and technical challenges, particularly the need for large, power-intensive antennas and real-time data transmission. As a result, the Department of Defense shifted GMTI operations to airborne platforms. More recently, the National Reconnaissance Office and the U.S. Air Force have explored GMTI capabilities using SpaceX’s Starshield satellite network.
Beyond GMTI, Kapta sees significant opportunities in space-based radar for maritime domain awareness, missile defense, and space surveillance.
Fast-Tracking Space Deployment
Kapta’s immediate priority is to get its technology into orbit swiftly. The DARPA-funded SBIR project serves as a stepping stone toward building a one-meter-square antenna for aerial and space-based trials. To accelerate progress, the company is actively seeking additional funding from both private investors and military stakeholders.
“We are engaging with combatant commands to identify key capability gaps and priority areas where our technology can provide solutions,” Perque noted.
Kapta is planning an in-orbit demonstration involving two or three satellites, which will not only track moving targets but also exchange custody of those targets—an advanced capability currently lacking in existing systems.
Perque launched Kapta from his basement in 2022, leveraging early conversations with DARPA officials about space situational awareness and the potential of metasurface-based radar systems. These discussions ultimately led to the SBIR contract and the security clearances necessary for classified work in moving-target tracking.
While Kapta faces significant challenges in breaking into the defense sector as a startup, Perque remains confident in the company’s trajectory. “We are incredibly motivated because we have a technology that can meet diverse mission requirements,” he emphasized. “Our focus has been on understanding defense needs and developing a solution that delivers real value.”