Building on an existing order of six second generation satellites in the Galileo range of craft (G2), the European Space Agency (ESA), acting on behalf of the EU Agency for the Space Programme (Euspa) under a delegation of the European Commission, has awarded Airbus a contract to build two additional second-generation G2 satellites.
A flagship programme of the European Union (EU), Galileo is the EU’s global navigation satellite system (GNSS), and provides improved navigation, positioning and timing information. Galileo is said to be unique in its field as, unlike other global satellite navigation systems, it is a civilian system conceived with secure service provision to users at its core.
Galileo is funded by the EU and managed by the European Commission. The Euspa acts as the service provider, oversees the service operations and deployment of the Galileo system – including launch services – and ensures it meets market and user needs.
Since Galileo’s inception, the ESA has led the design, development and qualification of the space and ground systems, as well as procuring launches. The ESA is also entrusted with research and development activities for the future of Galileo in the EU programme, Horizon Europe.
Galileo is designed to enable various satellite-based services and applications for a broad spectrum of sectors and users, ranging from aviation and maritime to agriculture and location-based services, providing Europe and European citizens with independence and sovereignty in the provision of positioning services.
In addition, Galileo is designed to provide numerous benefits to businesses and billions of users worldwide. Citing a use case, Euspa noted that when embedded in everyday products such as in-vehicle navigation devices and mobile phones, Galileo can ensure that users know their exact position with greater precision and accuracy than other available systems.
The services offered by Galileo also include supporting emergency first responders in their search and rescue efforts, combatting climate change and playing a crucial role in helping Europe achieve key policy initiatives such as the European Green Deal and Digital Transformation.
By enhancing European innovation, Euspa believes that Galileo can play a pivotal role in fostering the development of products, services and jobs. The additional pair of satellites are seen as able to benefit from existing Airbus manufacturing capabilities and reaffirms this successful partnership.
The G2 satellites will incorporate enhanced navigation antennas to enhance the accuracy of the flagship European Global Navigation Satellite System. The spacecraft will be equipped with higher-strength navigation antennas, as well as fully digital payloads that are reconfigurable in orbit, enabling them to actively respond to evolving user needs with novel signals and services.
Airbus assured it will draw on its coordinated production programme to improve spacecraft manufacturing, integration and testing expertise across Airbus sites including Backnang (near Stuttgart), Friedrichshafen, Getafe (near Madrid), Ottobrunn and Toulouse.
Each satellite will incorporate an enhanced atomic clock configuration as well as inter-satellite links to communicate and cross-check data. They will also feature anti-jamming and anti-spoofing capabilities to safeguard Galileo’s signals. The spacecraft will each weigh more than two tonnes and operate in orbit for 15 years.
“This latest award for two additional sophisticated Galileo satellites underscores Airbus’ satellite manufacturing expertise,” said Alain Fauré, head of space systems at Airbus. “We are committed to delivering these next-generation satellites which are vital to augment navigation capabilities for European security and defence and wider societal benefits.”
Laurent Jaffart, ESA director of resilience, navigation and connectivity, said: “With these contracts, ESA and European industry are safeguarding the continuity of Europe’s satellite navigation services, responding to the evolving needs of users, and strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy. These contracts represent an investment in Europe’s ability to navigate its own future, independently and with confidence.”
