UK Trials Validate Xona’s LEO Pulsar Enhancements for Next-Gen GNSS Resilience

In a major step toward more resilient satellite navigation, QinetiQ and Xona Space Systems have completed the first UK tests of Xona’s Pulsar satellite navigation system. The trials demonstrated how Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites can strengthen GPS and other GNSS services, boosting resistance to jamming, spoofing, and signal outages in congested or contested environments.

The tests were carried out using QinetiQ’s Q40 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver, which is capable of tracking multiple constellations and frequencies. During the demonstration, the receiver successfully acquired and processed signals from Pulsar-0, Xona’s first production-class satellite. By combining these LEO signals with traditional GNSS, the system showed far greater robustness in low-signal conditions.

This trial forms part of the GRAPE project (GNSS Receiver with Advanced Pulsar Enhancement), a joint effort between QinetiQ and Xona under the European Space Agency’s Navigation Innovation and Support Program (NAVISP), with additional support from the UK Space Agency. GRAPE aims to fuse new LEO-based signals with established GNSS to improve navigation across defence, infrastructure, and autonomous systems.

Chris Walker, Managing Director of QinetiQ’s Mission Systems Division, highlighted the importance of the achievement:
“For the first time, we have demonstrated how signals from new LEO satellites can be used alongside existing GNSS to give users stronger, more resilient timing and position information. This is a huge step in protecting our defence, critical infrastructure, and future autonomous systems against interference.”

Giorgio Taylor, Director of Business Development for Xona in the UK and Europe, added:
“Our Pulsar constellation is designed to deliver resilience and accuracy at a time when GNSS alone is no longer enough. The successful demonstration of QinetiQ’s Q40 receiver with our in-orbit signals proves this technology is ready to make a difference across defence and commercial autonomy.”

Broader Context

• Pulsar-0, launched in June 2025, is the first production-class satellite in Xona’s planned constellation. Operating in Low Earth Orbit (~1,080 km), it delivers navigation signals up to 100 times stronger than GPS and includes advanced authentication features to counter spoofing and jamming.

• The system is designed for centimeter-level accuracy, with signal formats compatible with existing receivers, allowing adoption through software upgrades rather than expensive new hardware.

• Xona has also secured $92 million in funding and a US Space Force STRATFI award, confirming strong global interest in deploying a secure, next-generation positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) layer.

• Recent commercial partnerships with precision timing firms Hoptroff, Fibrolan, and Timebeat will bring Pulsar services to finance, telecoms, and infrastructure sectors by 2026.

• To ensure sustainability, future Pulsar satellites will include docking plates for in-orbit servicing and debris management, through a partnership with UK-based Astroscale.

Why This Matters

The UK demonstration marks a turning point for global navigation resilience. Traditional GNSS signals—while vital—are vulnerable to interference, especially in urban areas or hostile environments. By adding LEO satellites like Pulsar to the mix, users gain faster, stronger, and more secure signals, ensuring reliable navigation and timing for:

• Defence operations in GPS-denied environments

• Autonomous vehicles requiring uninterrupted precision

• Critical infrastructure such as power grids and telecoms

• Urban navigation where tall buildings often block signals

The successful UK trials of the Pulsar system show that LEO-based navigation is no longer experimental but ready for real-world use. With Xona’s constellation on the way and strong collaboration from QinetiQ, ESA, and the UK Space Agency, the future of resilient, secure, and high-precision satellite navigation is taking shape.