Madrid, 19th December – Deimos is playing a critical role in Europe’s LEO-PNT (Low-Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation, and Timing) project.
The company is leading the development of four satellite navigation platforms for one of ESA’s demonstrator missions led by Thales Alenia Space in France as prime contractor and Thales Alenia Space in Italy as Space Segment responsible. This contract includes the design, development and delivery of the four platforms plus the corresponding flight operations ground segment.
The LEO-PNT in-orbit demonstrator (LEO PNT IoD) is based on a reduced constellation of small satellites designed to fly at lower altitudes than traditional navigation satellites, testing novel signals and frequency bands that will significantly enhance navigation resilience and accuracy. The demonstrator will work in tandem with Galileo system to showcase the added value of a complementary LEO Layer such as increased accuracy, enhanced resistance against jamming and spoofing, and low-latency performance for fast signal acquisition.
The orbit demonstrator consists of five satellites and is one of two missions selected by the European Space Agency for the LEO-PNT project. Deimos is responsible for delivering the platforms and flight operations ground segment for four of these satellites, with integration taking place at Deimos’ Puertollano facility. The ground segment will leverage Deimos’ gs4EO product, a TRL9 plug-and-play software suite that provides comprehensive tools to support satellite missions in low Earth orbit (LEO).
The LEO-PNT in orbit demonstrator aims to support emerging applications such as autonomous vehicles, unmanned aerial and maritime vehicles and 5G/6G telecommunications network synchronization. It will also demonstrate the interoperability of PNT services with open communication standards, creating a pathway for new applications in the Internet of Things, emergency services and low-latency data for positioning and timing.
“Being a part of the LEO-PNT IoD project marks a significant step forward for Deimos,” said Simone Centuori, CEO of Deimos. “It showcases our ability to contribute to large-scale space projects, both in satellite development and ground segment management. Our contributions will not only support the advancement of satellite navigation technology in Europe but also ensure the successful integration of these innovative solutions into everyday applications.’’
The first two LEO-PNT IoD satellites utilizing the Deimos platform are scheduled for launch in 2026, followed by two more satellites set to reach orbit before the end of 2027.