406MHz Emergency Distress Beacons with Extended Galileo Return Link Features
Galileo, one of the components of the EU Space Programme, is the European Global Navigation Satellite System (EGNSS). It is a system under civilian control, intended to provide navigation services to users, including reliable services for specific user communities.
Galileo Search and Rescue (SAR) is the European Union contribution to Cospas-Sarsat Medium Earth Orbit Search and Rescue (MEOSAR) programme, saving more than 2000 lives per year.
Galileo provides 2 services today: The Galileo Forward Link and the Galileo Return Link.
- The Galileo Forward Link Service was declared operational in 2016. Galileo satellites are used to retransmit the distress signals coming from an emergency distress beacon to the ground segment, where the alarm is processed, and the confirmed location is sent to the Rescue coordination centres.
- The Galileo Return Link Service (RLS) was declared operational in 2020. After reception of distress signal, the ground segment sends via Galileo satellites an acknowledgement receipt to the active emergency distress beacon, informing the user that the alarm has been processed.
Two new functions are under development to exploit the existing forward and return link capabilities:
- The Two-way communication (TwC) and;
- The Remote Beacon Activation (RBA).
EUSPA has launched a procedure looking for support on the design, development and testing of a 406MHz Emergency Distress Beacon with Extended Galileo Return Link Features. This role involves the definition of user requirements, the integration of Galileo TwC in at least one type of 406MHz emergency distress beacon, the identification of gaps and needs for their evolution to facilitate the integration of the Galileo TwC and the RBA function, a test execution in laboratory and in an operational environment, and the contribution to relevant standardisation process and proposal for standards evolution.
Maximum budget allocated for EU financing under this action is EUR 3.500.000.
To encourage the widest participation possible, EUSPA is organising an online webinar to present the procedure details on March 17, 2025, from 11:00 am to 12:30 am CET.
Find more information about the call here.
The deadline for the submission to the call is April 30, 2025, 243:59 CET.
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