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08 Sep 25. QinetiQ and Xona Increase Resilience of GPS Using New Satellites. QinetiQ and Xona Space Systems have demonstrated how GPS navigation can be bolstered by using Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, in the first UK tests of Xona’s new satellite navigation system, Pulsar. This marks a major milestone in the development of next generation Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) capabilities, increasing resilience against jamming and spoofing, as well as improving GPS availability in congested or challenged environments. The tests saw QinetiQ’s Q40 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver- which can already receive signals from multiple GNSS satellite constellations on multiple frequencies, acquire and track signals from Xona’s first production-class satellite, Pulsar-0. The tests demonstrated that by supplementing GNSS with LEO satellite signals like the Pulsar X1, enhanced resilience in contested or poor-signal environments can be achieved. A recent software upgrade to QinetiQ’s Q40 was developed under the European Space Agencies’ Navigation Innovation and Support Program (NAVISP) in the GNSS Receiver with Advanced Pulsar Enhancement (GRAPE) project. GRAPE is a collaboration between QinetiQ and Xona, supported by the UK Space Agency and European Space Agency. Its goal is to explore how new LEO-based signals, can be integrated with existing GNSS, to enhance the accuracy and resilience of navigation services for defence, critical infrastructure, and future autonomous applications.
Chris Walker, Managing Director, Mission Systems Division, QinetiQ, said: “For the first time, we have demonstrated how signals from new LEO satellites can be used alongside existing GNSS to give users stronger, more resilient timing and position information. This is a huge step in increasing the protection of our defence, critical infrastructure and future autonomous systems against interference.”
Giorgio Taylor, Director of Business Development, UK & Europe added: “Our Pulsar constellation is designed to deliver resilience and accuracy at a time when GNSS alone is no longer enough. The demonstration of QinetiQ’s Q40 receiver from our in-orbit signal proves this technology is ready to make a difference to users, from defence to commercial autonomy.” (Source: ASD Network)
08 Sep 25. Airbus ready for Defence Industrial Strategy to prioritise sovereignty. Particularly when it comes to space defence, wherein the European prime is competing with Lockheed Martin UK for WSS. As a leading supplier in the UK’s military space capability, Airbus Defence and Space are eager for the government to follow its own advice in prioritising sovereignty and ensure, as the government mantra goes, that UK defence remains an engine for growth. In an exclusive interview with Airforce Technology prior to the release of the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), Airbus executives Martin Rowse, campaign director, and Kata Escott, managing director, welcomed signals in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) in June, wherein the trio of authors recommended that the UK leverage the “significant untapped potential” domestically while also “boosting export potential.” While the SDR determined the government’s philosophy going forward, the DIS, which the Defence Secretary will release later today, outlines the specific approach to be taken in real terms.
“What that will do is put some meat on the bones of this big idea. I think that the really interesting bit will be in how the government then delivers on that commitment,” Escott considered.
“I think the political rhetoric is all in a great place,” she continued, “but I think there’s an opportunity here for [the government] to demonstrate a shift – some of the urgency we saw in the SDR.”
The Ministry of Defence revealed plans for increasing critical defence skills, investing £182m in the talent pipeline; launching a £250m fund for defence growth deals; and exploiting lessons in innovation coming out of Ukraine. In recent months, Nato allies have been eager to leverage and build Ukrainian designs of proven weapons systems, this includes Denmark and the UK to name a few. The company claims that they have up to £10bn ($13.5bn) worth of export potential with its portfolio of military satellite communications (MILSATCOM) based in the UK. This derives from years of building commercial and military satellites. In the space community, Airbus is known for Skynet, the UK’s MILSATCOM capability, which provides a critical enabler to the United States and 17 other Nato allies too. For a sense of the cost of the programme, it is worth noting that in 2022 the UK promised £1.4bn ($1.78bn) for space capabilities over the following ten years, apart from the £5bn to be spent on advancing Skynet. Built in Portsmouth but coming out of final tests, the first 6A satellite is booked to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket this year, and will operate the British military’s communications into the 2040s.
“That’s a big wealth generator because it leads to new capability,” Rowse stated. “The enduring Skynet 5 satellites are then evolved into the Skynet 6A satellites, which will be evolved into the WSS [Wideband Satellite System] satellites.”
WSS contract
At present, Airbus Defence and Space UK is competing with Lockheed Martin UK on the nation’s WSS contract. The procurement covers up to three tranches of geostationary (GEO) satellites, along with ground infrastructure and launch operations that are equipped with military-grade X-Band and Mil-Ka payloads to ensure high availability and hardened performance. A second and final invitation to negotiate reflecting all the agreed changes was produced and formally released on 8 August 2025. A preferred bidder will be selected and a full business case taken forward in early 2026. According to the government, WSS represents the “single largest space procurement nationally” – with an estimated contract value above £1.5bn – supporting the growth of the UK sovereign space sector. While sovereignty is a key part of the SDR and, perhaps, the DIS, Lockheed Martin UK will also be able to tap into a vibrant global space industry and leverage its experience in ground terminal infrastructure and building small satellites in the past 50 years. The company, based in the US but with a UK entity, have built more than 300 mission payloads for customers. This includes the LM 400 satellite bus, which provides a range of services both military and civil, including communications. It is worth noting, however, that Lockheed do not currently build satellites on UK soil at present. Although, the company is pursuing production sites in the UK, Lockheed Martin does have a space technology office in Harwell that explores opportunities within the UK space sector. Airforce Technology contacted Lockheed Martin UK about its WSS offering and the UK government about the competing companies but neither organisation responded for comment. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
03 Sep 25. Skylo expands collaboration with Garmin to bring satellite connectivity to new smartwatches. Skylo Technologies has announced the next phase of the firm’s technology collaboration with Garmin, enabling satellite-powered messaging1 and SOS messaging directly from the new fēnix® 8 Pro multisport smartwatches — no smartphone required. This marks a breakthrough in satellite connectivity: users can stay connected from their wrist — whether they’re deep in the back country or on a neighborhood trail with a spotty signal. With Skylo’s standards-based satellite network integrated directly into fēnix 8 Pro smartwatches, users in the non-contiguous U.S., Canada and Europe can send and receive text messages and share live GPS coordinates. The Garmin fēnix 8 Pro will be powered by Skylo’s commercially available satellite network service that allows users to connect with Garmin Response(SM) emergency coordination center to send and receive text messages about the nature of the emergency, and automatically share GPS location data to assist in the response effort. Garmin Response will coordinate with the appropriate emergency services team once an SOS message is received. Users can also send text messages to friends, family, and other contacts directly from their fēnix 8 Pro, or alternatively, via the Garmin Messenger application running on a paired smartphone. This launch builds on the existing strategic collaboration between Garmin and Skylo which has utilized Garmin Response emergency coordination services to connect users of select Skylo connected devices to the help they need through a vast global network of law enforcement agencies, emergency services providers, search and rescue professionals, embassies, coast guards, and more. This 24/7-staffed emergency monitoring and global rescue coordination service routes messages worldwide, helping people in need reach emergency services nearly every day. From hikers lost in the wilderness to travelers involved in car accidents on isolated roads and people with health issues in suburban areas without terrestrial coverage, this collaboration has meaningfully impacted people’s lives when they needed it most. With this collaboration, Garmin becomes one of the first major smartwatch brands to adopt open standards-based satellite connectivity — a shift that underscores a broader trend away from proprietary satellite hardware toward scalable, integrated experiences. Now, with fēnix® 8 Pro, the peace of mind previously available only with handheld satellite communicators is built into the watch you wear every day. Skylo’s service requires no additional antennas or external hardware, leveraging chipsets already found in today’s leading consumer devices. It’s part of Skylo’s broader mission to bring direct-to-device connectivity to a billion devices — not in some far-off future, but today. Shipping September 8, fēnix 8 Pro smartwatches from Garmin will be available at select Garmin retailers and online at www.garmin.com. Skylo’s embrace of 3GPP standards-based protocols allows connected products to incorporate satellite technology using the economies of scale available in the broader cellular industry. Skylo’s satellite connectivity is available in 36 countries around the world and spans 60 m sq. km. of coverage. This is what satellite connectivity should feel like — seamless, invisible, available when you need it,” said Tarun Gupta, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Skylo Technologies. “We’re proud to help Garmin unlock a new category of devices that are lighter, smarter, and connected when it matters most. Whether you’re scaling peaks or hiking on trails, Skylo helps keep Garmin customers connected – even far from cellular coverage.” Garmin is proud to team up with Skylo to deliver our proven SOS service to the fēnix 8 Pro smartwatch. Our professionally trained Garmin Response emergency response coordinators have supported thousands of SOS incidents across every continent for almost two decades, helping connect adventurers and their loved ones to potentially life-saving help when they need it the most,” said Brad Trenkle, Garmin co-Chief Operating Officer. (Source: Satnews)
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Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.
The company combines novel artificial intelligence and radar technologies to identify movement and provide context in real-time. MatrixSpace sensors are the smallest, lightest and most portable high-performance systems on the market powered by AI. They deliver actionable insights that empower a broad range of public and private enterprises to protect assets and maintain safety with superior situational awareness.
For the modern, mobile battlespace, MatrixSpace provides both high performance 4D radar and jam-resistant mesh networked communications engineered to perform in the harshest conditions—day or night, in any weather, and in remote, rugged locations. Designed for flexibility, our radar systems can be integrated with tactical vehicles or mounted on structures like buildings, TOCs, or stanchions. Offering 360° coverage, they provide unmatched field-of-view advantages, while low energy consumption allows for solar/battery-powered operation in off-grid environments at twice the duration and a fraction the cost of alternatives. The MatrixSpace AI platform removes clutter and classifies objects, so operators can act confidently without specialized radar expertise.
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MatrixSpace solutions are designed and developed in the United States, without ITAR export restrictions, manufactured under the highest ISO and IATF standards and rigorously tested for quality, reliability and compliance.
Visit maxtrixspace.com
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