Satellite Navigation (GNSS)
Strong EU PositionOverview
Galileo is Europe's sovereign satellite navigation system — a 27-satellite constellation providing global positioning services under civilian control. It offers higher accuracy than GPS (down to 20cm with High Accuracy Service) and is not subject to US military control.
This is Europe's clearest tech sovereignty success story. Galileo is fully operational, globally available, and embedded in billions of devices worldwide.
Why EU Sovereignty Matters
Satellite navigation underpins critical infrastructure: aviation, maritime, road transport, emergency services, financial transaction timestamping, and power grid synchronization. Before Galileo, Europe depended entirely on GPS — a US military system that can be degraded or denied at US discretion. Galileo guarantees European access to positioning services regardless of geopolitical circumstances.
Key European Players
Corporate
German space company that built Galileo navigation satellites. Key European space industry prime contractor.
Government
EU Agency for the Space Programme, headquartered in Prague. Manages Galileo and EGNOS operations and market development.
Initiative
European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service. Augments GPS/Galileo for safety-critical aviation applications across Europe.
EU's global navigation satellite system. 27 satellites providing positioning, navigation, and timing services. More accurate than GPS, under civilian control.
Key Facts
- Status
- Fully operational since 2016, HAS since 2023
- Control
- Civilian-operated (unlike GPS military control)
- Accuracy
- Down to 20cm (High Accuracy Service)
- Constellation
- 27 operational satellites
Recent News
Other Domains
Suggest an Edit
Know a European player we're missing? See something that needs updating? Suggestions are reviewed by our editorial team.