INDUSTRY

Telespazio secures contract for Italy’s satellite navigation centre

Telespazio has been awarded, as the first contractor of a team composed of Italian universities, research centres and industrial companies, the call by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) for the creation of the “National GNSS Competence Centre”.

The Centre, housed in the Telespazio headquarters in Rome, will aim to create a laboratory that will use resources distributed throughout the national territory, at the offices of the various team members, for the development of new capabilities, solutions and technologies to face current and future challenges in the field of satellite navigation.

The team includes the National Institute of Metrology Research (INRiM), the Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA), Qascom and the National Inter-University Consortium for Telecommunications (CNIT) with the Research Units of the University of Pisa, the Polytechnic of Turin, the University of Padua and the University of Roma Tre.

The “National GNSS Competence Centre” will allow scientific and technological skills to be shared, while providing third parties with management skills for complex projects in the field of satellite navigation. The Centre will also develop new software for monitoring the performance of GNSS services, as well as testing new receivers. A specific collaborative cloud platform will provide the development software capabilities to be used by all the entities participating in the project and by future users of the laboratory.

The distributed form of the Centre, in fact, aims over time to involve other academic realities, research centres and other industrial realities, with the aim of sharing skills and knowledge to develop new innovative technologies and promote their transfer to the market.

In the area of training, the Centre aims to become a national landmark for the dissemination of satellite navigation expertise, organising specific workshops and courses intended for both university students in STEM disciplines and professionals in the field. www.telespazio.com

Digital MEMS accelerometer by TDK Corporation

TDK Corporation has introduced the AXO314, the latest addition to its Tronics AXO300 accelerometer series. It is engineered for industrial applications exposed to shock and vibration, featuring a ±14 g input range. It employs a closed-loop architecture to ensure linearity and high vibration rejection, providing a low-size, weight, and power (SWaP) digital alternative to tactical-grade quartz accelerometers. It has a one-year composite bias repeatability of 1 mg and bias instability of 4 µg. www.tdk-electronics.tdk.com

Propeller and GEODNET partnership

Propeller has announced a partnership with GEODNET to elevate its surveygrade mapping solutions. By integrating GEODNET stations into the Propeller Corrections Network, it can now deliver even more precise data to its customers. Propeller has developed a fully integrated PPK mapping workflow that works across a wide range of commercial drones. www.propelleraero.com

TrustPoint is awarded SpaceWERX contracts

TrustPoint has been selected by SpaceWERX for two Direct-to-Phase II contracts, in the amount of $3.8M total, focused on demonstrating the company’s GPS-independent ground control segment and an advanced PNT security application. The Air Force Research Laboratory and SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force and a unique division within AFWERX, have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. trustpointgps.com

Aerial reconnaissance and elimination system

Skylark Labs has unveiled the Aerial Reconnaissance and Elimination System (ARIES), aimed at improving situational awareness and addressing emerging threats. It leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to detect, classify, and respond to threats in real-time, continuously adapting to new challenges across various domains without needing manual updates. This enhances situational awareness and speeds up decision-making for military personnel.

The system can detect and track UAVs beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), boosting the range and effectiveness of counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) operations while providing early warnings for swift threat responses. ARIES integrates seamlessly with existing defense infrastructure, reducing the need for frequent manual updates and enhancing mission success rates. skylarklabs.ai

Packaged PNT solution by OneWeb Technologies

Astra™ solution by OneWeb Technologies is designed to ensure seamless LEO SATCOM connectivity and operational performance when GPS/global navigation satellite signals (GNSS) are unavailable or compromised. It is the first packaged solution consisting of a software-defined outdoor receiver with access to A-PNT broadcast service to enhance connectivity resilience available in the market. The Astra receiver processes PNT signals from GNSS and other alternate sources and frequency bands. This advanced capability enables continuous connectivity and situational awareness even in very harsh spectrum-contested campaigns by adversaries. In fitting with the military’s Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency (PACE) communications plan considerations, Astra establishes options for resilient communications capabilities and ensures the continuity and success of critical missions. onewebtechnologies.net

Topcon releases upgraded surveying software

Topcon has released a new version of its computer-aided design (CAD) software suite, formerly known as MAGNET. Version 9 is also renamed under the Topcon software suite as the business retires the MAGNET brand.

The software is designed for professionals such as surveyors, engineers, modelers etc. It can be used as standalone, officebased CAD software or as a cloudconnected solution that integrates field and office operations with Topcon or Sokkia survey instruments. The platform offers user-friendly and versatile configurations suitable for various applications. www.topconpositioning.com

Hanwha Defence Australia, Hanwha Aerospace, and Advanced Navigation sign MoU

Advanced Navigation, Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-develop strategic-grade APNT solutions. The agreement will see the three companies collaborate on the development of high-performance inertial navigation systems (INS) for autonomous, airborne and crewed systems. This will be used for precision targeting and vehicle navigation in global navigation satellite system (GNSS)- contested environments across land and air domains. www.advancednavigation.com

GMV for SIRTAP UAS navigation system development

GMV has been selected by Airbus to develop the navigation system of the tactical UAS SIRTAP (High Performance Remotely Operated System). The contract covers both the equipment on board the aircraft and the ground augmentation station to improve navigation accuracy during takeoff and landing.

The SIRTAP remotely piloted aircraft is designed for advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions (day and night), both on land and at sea.

The High Performance Remotely Piloted System (SIRTAP) will provide a performance leap in the high-end tactical unmanned aircraft segment. Its dual applications, both in support of civilian and military operations, will offer a wide range of missions tailored to the operational needs of institutional and government clients. www.gmv.com

EGNOS safety of life service for aviation SDD v3.6

The new EGNOS SoL Service for Aviation SDD introduces several updates designed to improve the precision, reliability, and safety of satellite navigation services in aviation.

One of the standout features in SDD v3.6 is the introduction of updated commitment maps. These maps visually represent the regions where EGNOS commits to delivering a specific level of service performance. The new maps bring significant improvements in service availability, particularly across the North, East, and West, offering aviation users a clearer understanding of where they can expect the highest levels of accuracy and reliability.

The document also highlights updates to the EGNOS architecture, covering both space and ground segments. The space segment update provides the latest information on the GEO satellites delivering EGNOS services. On the ground, the expansion of the RIMS network, including a new site in Kuusamo, Finland, strengthens the system’s robustness, particularly in remote and challenging environments.

Another significant update in this version is the detailed analysis of ionospheric activity’s impact under Solar Cycle 25, which began in December 2019 and is expected to peak around 2025. This extreme solar activity poses challenges to satellite navigation. The document offers insights into how EGNOS continues to maintain reliable performance, even under adverse ionospheric conditions. www.euspa.europa.eu

UK to build new £20m antijamming test facility

The UK Ministry of Defence will build a new anti-jamming test facility at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, England, aimed at protecting military equipment from GPS jamming threats. The £20 million ($26 million) contract has been awarded to the defense technology company QinetiQ, which will develop one of Europe’s largest anechoic chambers, scheduled to be operational by 2026.

This facility, known as a “silent hangar,” will be capable of accommodating large military assets, including Protector UAVs, Chinook helicopters, and F-35 fighter jets, allowing for thorough testing against electronic warfare threats. Maria Eagle, the Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, stated that the facility will address vulnerabilities in military systems, thereby enhancing national security and better safeguarding the armed forces during global deployments.

Engineered to minimize radio-frequency wave leakage, the hangar will ensure that testing does not disrupt local emergency services or air traffic control. Additionally, the UK Ministry of Defence anticipates that the project will create 20 new jobs in the Boscombe Down area and offer benefits beyond defense, supporting various government and industry sectors. ukdefencejournal.org.uk

UP42 and Planet partnership

UP42, announced a partnership with Planet Labs PBC. This collaboration significantly expands UP42’s optical data portfolio with the integration of Planet SkySat, the world’s largest constellation of high resolution Earth observation satellites. up42.com