UAV Navigation develops LEO satellite alternative to GPS for drones

A technological consortium led by Inster–Grupo Oesía is developing a resilient navigation system for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to operate in environments where traditional GPS and GNSS services are unavailable or compromised. Funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) under the NAVISP Element 2 program, the project aims to utilize opportunistic signals from low Earth orbit (LEO) communications constellations, specifically in the Ka-band.

The system focuses on non-cooperative signals—emissions not originally designed for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT). By transforming these communication signals into usable PNT observables, the technology provides a backup against jamming and spoofing. UAV Navigation is responsible for integrating these LEO-derived observables into high-performance autopilots through multi-sensor data fusion, ensuring mission continuity for tactical drones in contested scenarios.