GMV in the UK advances resilient satellite navigation with new BEACON beamforming capability

GMV, through its subsidiaries in the UK and Portugal, in partnership with Loughborough University, has been awarded a contract under the European Space Agency’s NAVISP programme to develop BEACON, an advanced beamforming antenna and receiver system designed to improve the resilience of C-band radionavigation signals from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. The initiative represents a significant step forward in strengthening the UK and Europe’s next-generation Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) capabilities.

Combining beamforming, null-steering and angle-of-arrival estimation, BEACON will enhance signal integrity and provide stronger protection against interference and spoofing. These techniques are essential for ensuring reliable navigation performance in dense, obstructed and interference-heavy environments, where conventional antennas often struggle. By delivering these capabilities for C-band, BEACON adds a critical component to the emerging end-to-end LEO-based PNT chain.

Advanced C-Band Antenna and Receiver Integration 

The BEACON project will design and showcase a Controlled Radiation Pattern Antenna tailored for C-band, a frequency pivotal to the future of LEO navigation and increasingly prominent in ESA’s FutureNAV programme and Celeste mission, as well as emerging commercial systems. Building on GMV’s leadership in ESA’s LEO PNT LEGION initiative, BEACON will demonstrate the strength of a fully integrated solution comprising GMV’s XRC software-defined receiver combined with a compact antenna array engineered by Loughborough University. This pairing will deliver precise beam steering and robust protection against interference and spoofing. GMV’s team in Portugal will provide support to UK team primarily on the use and adaptation of the XRC software receiver and the enhancement of its beamforming functionality.

The 18-month €800,000 programme, launching in December 2025, will take the system from design and integration through calibration and validation under real-world conditions, including interference trials and demanding urban environments.

“Our goal at GMV is simple: to make navigation you can trust, wherever you are. By integrating agile beamforming antenna technology with advanced signal processing, BEACON will deliver a PNT capability that remains reliable even under demanding interference conditions.” said William Roberts, NAV Manager at GMV UK.

Beyond its technical objectives, BEACON reinforces Europe’s commitment to securing autonomous, resilient PNT services at a time when reliable navigation underpins critical national infrastructure, transport and defence. The project will also support the growing commercial need for dependable navigation in sectors such as autonomous transport, logistics and unmanned systems.

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