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UK considers viability of British alternative to EU's Galileo

UKspace has announced that it fully endorses the Government’s plans to undertake a major feasibility study into the possible development of an alternative to the EU’s Galileo satellite system, with the UK perhaps eventually creating its own Global Navigation Satellite System.

The 18-month programme of work, using up to £92 million of Brexit readiness funding, could result in the UK developing a national alternative to the EU’s Galileo satellite system and ensure UK security post Brexit. The money has been allocated from the £3 billion Brexit readiness fund announced at last year’s Budget and will be rolled out over the coming months.

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UKspace Chair, Graham Peters, said: “We know that the ideal scenario is for the UK to remain an active participant in the Galileo programme, post Brexit, having already contributed so much to it. However, if this is not agreed, British industry is ready to step up to the plate to support this initiative.

“This investment is further evidence that the Government recognises the importance of space services to the prosperity and security of the UK. Our members and other stakeholders across the UK space sector will be ready to assist with the feasibility and development activities which will establish a firm basis for the programme.”

UK industry has been instrumental in developing Galileo technology and encryption and, if required, this expertise and experience will be used in developing the alternative solution, with several multi-million pound contracts available for British space companies.

Satellite navigation systems like GPS are increasingly important for commercial, military and other critical applications, from guiding aircraft, ships and emergency services to helping millions of people find their way on car journeys. A recent government study estimated that sustained disruption to satellite navigation would cost the UK economy £1 billion per day.

The government has been clear that the UK wants to remain involved in the Galileo programme and is negotiating with the European Commission to this end. Yet without the assurance that UK industry can collaborate on an equal basis now and in the future, and without access to the necessary security-related information to rely on Galileo for military functions such as missile guidance, the UK would be obliged to end its participation in the project.

The UK Space Agency is leading this phase of the work to look at options for a British Global Navigation Satellite System, which would fully meet UK security requirements and support the UK’s sovereign space and cryptography sectors. This significant new investment will develop specific technical proposals with the Ministry of Defence playing a full role in support.

The 18-month engineering, design and development project will deliver a detailed technical assessment and schedule of a UK global positioning system. This would provide both civilian and encrypted signals and be compatible with the US GPS system.

UK industry has been instrumental in developing Galileo technology and encryption, and this experience will be used in developing the alternative, with a number of multimillion-pound contracts available for British space companies.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said: “Britain is a world leader in the space industry and satellites. We are investing in an alternative option to Galileo to ensure our future security needs are met using the UK’s world-leading space sector. Our position on Galileo has been consistent and clear. We have repeatedly highlighted the specialist expertise we bring to the project and the risks in time delays and cost increases that the European Commission is taking by excluding UK industry. Britain has the skills, expertise and commitment to create our own sovereign satellite system and I am determined that we take full advantage of the opportunities this brings, backed by our modern Industrial Strategy.”

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “The danger space poses as a new front for warfare is one of my personal priorities, and it is absolutely right that we waste no time in going it alone if we need an independent satellite system to combat those emerging threats. This alternative system and the UK’s very first Defence Space Strategy which I will launch later this year will be a further boost to military skills, our innovative businesses and our genuinely world-leading role which has seen us make such a key contribution to Galileo.”

Dr Graham Turnock, CEO of UK Space Agency said: “We remain confident in the strength of our space sector and look forward to working in partnership with them on the exciting prospect of a national satellite navigation system.”

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Graham Mackrell, Managing director, Harmonic Drive UK, said: "The UK’s expertise has been instrumental to the development of the EU’s Galileo satellite programme and British space companies should welcome the prime minister’s announcement of potentially launching a rival satellite project as a strong strategic move for the UK industry and economy.

"We have seen first-hand how the UK’s space and satellite industry has boomed over the past decade, with a strong pipeline of work. The announcement of the new satellite programme will support this growth and comes at a time when many aerospace and engineering companies around the world are facing a global components shortage.

"I call on business leaders to use the time in the run-up to Brexit to plan their projects more effectively, source the highest quality components and build a strong position to win other, multimillion-pound contracts."

Even if the decision was taken not to create a UK independent satellite system and the UK remained a full member of Galileo post-Brexit, this work would support UK jobs and expertise in areas including spacecraft and antenna design, satellite control systems, cryptography and cyber security. It will also support the UK’s growing space sector.

Britain’s space industry is going from strength to strength. At the Farnborough International Airshow in July, the government committed £31.5m to support the development of a spaceport in Sutherland in Scotland and commercial operations from the site, which could be the first in Europe and will see rockets lift off from UK soil.

Horizontal launch sites also have significant potential in a future UK spaceflight market, which could attract companies from all over the world to invest in Britain. Sites such as Newquay, Glasgow Prestwick and Snowdonia will be boosted by an additional £2m fund to grow their sub-orbital flight, satellite launch and spaceplane ambitions.

Low cost access to space is important for the UK’s thriving space sector which builds more small satellites than any other country, with Glasgow building more than any other city in Europe.

The UK Space Agency is driving the growth of the space sector as part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy with major initiatives including the £99m National Space Test Facility at Harwell and the UK continues to be a leading member of the European Space Agency, which is independent of the EU.

 

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