Aircraft

^{By Gregory Twachtman in Washington, DC}

EADS Astrium and Lockheed Martin will work together to ensure the interoperability of future  European and US satellite navigation systems.

Galileo Joint Undertaking is managing a European consortium led by EADS Astrium developing the Galileo space-based radio positioning, navigation and time distribution system. The US military is also working on an upgraded block III of its existing Global Positioning System (GPS), with Lockheed Martin the prime contractor.

Under an agreement announced today, the companies say they will “perform systems engineering and technical assistance tasks for each other in the areas of interoperability, integrity and optimization of joint constellation performance”.

The companies will also offer reciprocal bids on operational hardware and software, subject to European and USA export policies.

“This opens a new dimension of cooperation between two of the world’s leading technology companies in a system that will benefit consumers for decades as the Galileo and GPS III systems are in operation,” says EADS senior vide president for Earth observation, navigation and science Reinhold Lutz.

“We look forward to making our 30 years of GPS experience available to the Galileo programme to maximize performance and utility for all users of satellite navigation when both Galileo and GPS III are in operation,” adds Lockheed Martin Integrated Solutions vice president for international programmes Marshall Keith.

In June 2004, European and US Government officials announced an agreement that would allow the two satellite navigation systems to co-exist without created security risks. Galileo and GPS III are set to transmit a common open signal from both satellite constellations.

GPS III will allow military authorities to shut down GPS service to a limited geographical location while providing GPS to US and allied forces.