Call for information on low Earth orbit navigation

Satellite navigation systems such as the European Galileo are a huge success: they fuel our society, generate economic growth and are integral to our security. However, our increasing reliance on them inspires increasing needs to overcome current vulnerabilities and provide more resilient and accurate services. A pivotal step in this direction is transitioning into a system of systems that includes a layer of navigation satellites in low Earth orbit.

Approved at the ESA Council at Ministerial Level in 2022, ESA’s LEO-PNT In-Orbit Demonstrator will showcase the potential of such a layer through a constellation of 10 satellites that will test the use of novel signals and frequency bands in representative end-user environments. The constellation is under development, with first satellite acceptance reviews happening this year, in preparation towards first launch. Demonstration is expected throughout 2026 and 2027.

The next proposed phase of the programme, a LEO-PNT industrialisation and in-orbit validation phase is in preparation to be proposed at the ESA Council at Ministerial Level in November 2025. This phase aims at bridging the in-orbit demonstration mission and potential future operational systems, both institutional and/or commercial initiatives.

What are we looking for?

ESA is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) to collect input and expressions of interest from European industry. ESA aims to gather insights on European technology products, maturity and production capability of payload building blocks and existing initiatives on European industrialised satellite platforms to accommodate them. In particular, the RFI focuses on three categories: payload enabling technologies, available off-the-shelf satellite platform to host them and associated industrialisation aspects such as cost reduction, scalability, production time and technology miniaturisation. For additional details, visit the LEO-PNT RFI call on OSIP.

Through this RFI, ESA will gather the necessary input to consolidate the schedule, cost, risks and industrialisation aspects of a proposed LEO-PNT Industrialisation and In-Orbit Validation phase.

Eligibility criteria, schedule and process

This RFI is open for submissions from industry, research institutions and interested parties from one of ESA’s Member States, Associate Member States or Cooperating States.

Respondents are kindly asked to provide a notice of intent as early as possible, after which a dialogue phase will take place followed by the submission deadline on 28 March 2025.

Ideas can be submitted via ESA’s Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP), which also provides full details on timing and process.