ESA and Norway Sign NAVISP Contracts for Resilient Satellite Navigation

On 27 October at Spaceport Norway in Oslo, the European Space Agency (ESA) signed new contracts with three Norwegian companies under the Navigation Innovation and Support Program (NAVISP). The initiative follows a project call via NAVISP funding issued by the Norwegian Space Agency to support the development of resilient positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) solutions.

Satellite navigation infrastructure faces growing risks from interference, such as deliberate jamming and spoofing, which can affect critical harbour operations and everyday services. According to reported figures from a Norwegian government socio-economic analysis cited by Norwegian Space Agency Senior Advisor Kristian Svartveit, a seven-day loss of satellite-based PNT services could cost Norway approximately NOK 3.4 billion (EUR 320 million). Additionally, a report from the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment highlighted PNT's importance for national defence.

New Contracts and Project Objectives

The three signed contracts target specific resilience challenges across different sectors:

• Testnor (Tromsø): Aims to build a Signal Data Library of GNSS interference recordings and radio frequency playbacks, starting with data collected at Norway's Jammertest exercise, allowing industry to test technology vulnerabilities.
• Norse Navigation (Trondheim): Will develop maritime positioning sensors for SOLAS-compliant merchant vessels, integrating multi-constellation GNSS, Galileo OSNMA technology, and advanced jamming detection.
• Rift Dynamics (Sandnes): Partnered with subcontractor Comrod, the company will tackle GNSS-challenged environments for low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with Arctic trials aiming for 10 minutes of reliable operation in GNSS-denied conditions.

About NAVISP

Created in 2016 as an optional ESA programme supported by 20 states, NAVISP aims to cultivate European and Canadian industrial capacities, pioneering novel PNT systems, products and services that back-up, complement or augment existing capabilities.

*Practical Implications and Verification:* Companies and researchers can review official announcements and program details directly through the ESA NAVISP portal at navisp.esa.int. Original source material should be verified via official ESA press releases.