Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Accepted
Paragraph: 83
The events surrounding the UK’s expulsion from the EU’s Galileo programme were deeply unsatisfactory and...
Conclusion
The events surrounding the UK’s expulsion from the EU’s Galileo programme were deeply unsatisfactory and demonstrated a failure of statecraft on all sides. The European Commission’s decision was deeply regrettable given the extensive contribution, including financing of £1.2 billion, that the UK had made to the Galileo programme since its inception.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's frustrations regarding the EU's decision on Galileo and states that Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) remains a priority, noting current projects and investments to enhance PNT resilience.
Paragraph Reference:
83
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
We acknowledge the committee’s frustrations with the European Commission’s decision on Galileo, especially in light of the UK’s previous involvement. The EU made clear that the UK would be unable to influence the future shape of the security architecture and only be afforded the restricted access provided to third parties, and that UK businesses were unable to bid for or deliver the majority of contracts under Galileo. As such we concluded that the capability would not have met our critical infrastructure and national security requirements and potential membership fees would not have presented value for money. PNT remains a priority. BEIS recently created a small PNT project team to take forward the cross-Government PNT agenda, in line with the commitment in the March 2021 Integrated Review to strengthen the resilience of the PNT services on which our Critical National Infrastructure and economy depend. This project will build on the existing evidence base and significant work already undertaken within Government on PNT. The project will be completed by Spring 2023 and will help decide next steps on future PNT work across government. The Space-based PNT Programme built on the United Kingdom Global Navigation Satellite System (UK GNSS) programme to develop recommendations to provide the UK with satellite navigation services. The programme successfully concluded and has provided a range of detailed analysis on options which will now be considered by the BEIS PNT project team as part of its work. The MOD is supportive of the new PNT team, to which we have contributed experienced military personnel. PNT is a high priority area for Defence. The MOD is also unique in government, as the sole department which can leverage the military encrypted signal of GPS, representing the cutting edge in Global Navigation Satellite System technology. Despite this, we are also investing in a number of projects designed to enhance our PNT resilience, including from non-space based sources. This is part of a resilient “System of Systems” approach to providing PNT data for Defence, which has been endorsed at the highest levels in Defence. Defence funds both the Robust Global Navigation System (RGNS), and the Alternative Navigation programme (AltNav) as major equipment programmes, as well as a programme of scientific research and development into emerging PNT technologies through Dstl. RGNS is an £80 million project designed to deliver a UK-developed, low size, weight and power multi-constellation GNSS receiver, which can utilise all unencrypted GNSS signals being broadcast today. This will generate a more reliable and available PNT solution than could be achieved relying on a single GNSS constellation’s unencrypted signal alone. AltNav is an £84 million programme to develop a suite of non-GNSS PNT technologies that do not rely on fixed external infrastructure.