Satellite Achieves First Civil Authenticated Position Fix Under Spoofing Conditions

Satellite achieves first civil authenticated position fix under spoofing conditions

Satellite navigation has become essential in our lives, and consequently, it has also become an increasingly attractive target for disruption. Interference with Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as jamming ...

Galileo Demonstrates First Civil Authenticated Position Fix Under Spoofing

The European Union’s Galileo satellite navigation system has demonstrated its first civil authenticated position fix under real-world spoofing conditions, marking a step toward more resilient and trustworthy positioning for civilian users.

What Does Galileo Signal Authentication Mean for Trusted Satellite Navigation?

Five Galileo satellites transmitted encrypted components during a two-hour test on September 16, 2026. Ground receivers used those transmissions to establish authenticated positions, including during interference testing at Andøya in Norway. The European Space Agency’s account of the demonstration identifies the event as a milestone for the upcoming Galileo Signal Authentication Service (SAS).

Galileo's first civil authenticated position fix under spoofing conditions

For two hours on the afternoon of Wednesday 16 September, five operational Galileo satellites broadcasting over Europe transmitted a new encrypted signal for testing. On the ground in Andøya, Norway, and at ESA’s navigation laboratory at ESTEC, in the Netherlands, receivers successfully established their location using these encrypted signals, marking the first real-world positioning using Galileo’s upcoming Signal Authentication Service (SAS).