SouthPAN satellite navigation program successfully passes Critical Design Review milestone

Multinational technology firm GMV proudly announces that the Southern Positioning Augmentation Network (SouthPAN) has successfully completed its Critical Design Review (CDR), marking a pivotal milestone towards delivering advanced satellite-based augmentation services (SBAS) across Australia and New Zealand. 

Led by Lockheed Martin Australia, with GMV as a key strategic partner, SouthPAN is an innovative project jointly supported by the Australian and New Zealand governments, set to provide groundbreaking satellite navigation and precise positioning services throughout Australasia.

The Critical Design Review represents a vital checkpoint in the lifecycle of a safety-critical system such as SouthPAN, validating that the design meets stringent performance, safety, and security requirements necessary for civil aviation operations. As part of this milestone, the SouthPAN team provided comprehensive certification artifacts aligned with international aviation standards, including ARP 4754A for systems development processes, DO-254 for hardware, and DO-278A for software assurance. The successful completion of the CDR demonstrates that the system's architecture and implementation will satisfy the rigorous design assurance levels mandated for Safety-of-Life applications.  Achieving this milestone confirms the readiness of the system’s design for operational deployment and marks a critical step forward towards its future certification for Safety‑of-Life services in the aviation sector.

SouthPAN is notable as the first SBAS globally designed from its inception as a service rather than as a conventional turnkey system. This innovative service-oriented approach enables scalability and potential expansion into other regions, while establishing clear customer-provider interactions governed by service-level agreements (SLAs) and adherence to defined key performance indicators (KPIs). Early open services have already been provided since September 2022, demonstrating immediate benefits to users across Australasia. Moving forward, the SouthPAN service will fully deliver Safety‑of-Life L1 SBAS critical for aviation operations, significantly enhancing flight safety through precise runway approaches and superior navigation accuracy.

Additionally, SouthPAN has integrated cutting-edge dual-frequency multi-constellation (DFMC) SBAS and Precise Point Positioning (PPP) through SBAS as open services available to diverse users, including the agriculture, maritime, rail, road transport, and geomatics sectors. The DFMC SBAS capability is designed explicitly to support an effortless transition to future Safety-of-Life services through engineering updates and software modifications, without necessitating costly hardware replacements.

GMV’s central role in SouthPAN underscores the company's extensive expertise in developing safety-critical satellite navigation subsystems. GMV is responsible for two core elements of the SouthPAN project: the Corrections Processing Facility (CPF) and the Ground Control Center (GCC). These facilities will ensure that SouthPAN consistently meets stringent performance benchmarks by generating precise corrections for navigation signals and promptly identifying and reporting anomalies critical for Safety-of-Life aviation services. GMV also leads the navigation performance engineering activities and continuous performance monitoring, ensuring the system reliably fulfills its specified operational criteria.

Myra Sefton, Geoscience Australia’s SouthPAN Branch Head stated: "The successful completion of the Critical Design Review is an essential achievement in SouthPAN’s journey toward full operational capability. This milestone underlines our commitment to providing navigation solutions that significantly enhance safety, efficiency, and innovation across Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. SouthPAN exemplifies effective international collaboration, setting a global standard in satellite navigation infrastructure."

Miguel Romay, GMV’s Satellite Navigation Systems General Manager, emphasized the significance of this milestone and GMV’s role in the program: “Achieving this critical milestone demonstrates GMV’s enduring dedication to excellence in satellite navigation technology and safety-critical systems. Our deep involvement in SouthPAN positions GMV to further contribute to pioneering SBAS programs worldwide. This success also reinforces our ability to deliver advanced, reliable navigation solutions, setting new benchmarks in performance and safety standards for future satellite augmentation services.”

GMV’s SBAS and PPP proven track record

GMV boasts over 25 years of proven experience in delivering SBAS solutions worldwide, including the design, development, and operational maintenance of Europe’s EGNOS V2 system. The company's contributions span globally recognized projects in the Caribbean, South America, South Africa, and Australasia. Additionally, GMV is an established provider of Precise Point Positioning (PPP) services for a wide range of markets and applications, reinforcing its status as a global leader in satellite navigation innovation.

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