Ibadan, 26 July 2023. – The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded Spire Global a €16 million phased contract for the EURIALO project. The project will develop the preliminary design and demonstrator for a global space-based independent aircraft surveillance system. It is also part of ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) program in its Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications.
Spire Global will lead a consortium of major industry players for the contract, including ESSP (European Satellite Services Provider), Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) services provider. By independently verifying a plane’s location through geolocation MLAT technology, the EURIALO project will provide an advanced and reliable system for aircraft surveillance. Furthermore, it will have the ability to track a plane in real-time from takeoff to landing anywhere in the world. The project also aligns with the forward-look strategy of the European Air Traffic Management (ATM) Master Plan, which outlines the need for resilient, space-based infrastructure to support safe, sustainable, and efficient air travel.
Speaking on the project and contract, Peter Platzer, CEO, Spire Global, commented, “Space-based aircraft tracking and geolocation is the future of air traffic management to ensure safe, secure, and sustainable air travel at a global scale.”
Likewise, Javier Benedicto, acting director of Connectivity and Secure Communications at ESA, noted. “ESA has a long track record of supporting companies that use satellites to improve aviation safety, security, and sustainability, ensuring European autonomy and improving the lives of European citizens by creating jobs and prosperity.” Benedicto also added, “We are proud to partner with Spire Global, with its strong heritage, to develop a best-in-class satellite system design to demonstrate a system that will revolutionize air traffic management and surveillance for safer skies.”
