Leonardo has designed, developed, and built the only receiver specifically conceived for the ultra-secure Public Regulated Service (PRS) – provided by the Galileo satellite navigation system -that is currently accredited for use throughout Europe.

The device, produced at Leonardo’s facilities for the Italian Space Agency and under the coordination of Italy’s Competent PRS Authority, represented by the Department of Information Security – Central Secrecy Office, has received approval from the Council of the European Union for IT (Information Technology) security products after successfully completing the stringent dual cryptographic evaluation process.

In accordance with the directives of the Council of the EU, the receiver was first certified at the national level before being tested by a second authority (Appropriately Qualified Authority – AQUA), selected from those recognised by the Council for the European certification of cryptographic products.

A series of rigorous tests has demonstrated the device’s high level of security in multiple areas:

• Computer security – ensuring secure computational operations
• Communications security – encryption to protect sensitive information
• Emission security – preventing information leaks caused by electromagnetic emissions from terminals

With its newly awarded certification, the Leonardo receiver will enable all authorised civil and military entities to access the PRS service of the European Galileo satellite programme–the most accurate of its kind worldwide. 

This encrypted, secure, and resilient service is accessible only to EU Member State government-authorised users and provides positioning, navigation, and synchronisation data for critical applications, including defence, fire services, healthcare, search and rescue, police, coastguards, and civil protection.

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The Leonardo receiver is installed on board vehicles operated by entities using the PRS service, ensuring reliable, accurate, and cyber-protected data transmission. The receivers are now ready for deployment to Prague, home of the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), where they will undergo testing on the PRS signal in various European countries.

This marks a key preparatory phase before the service becomes fully operational. The first device has already been installed and is now operational at the Galileo Security Centre in Paris.

A flagship programme of the EU, Galileo is managed and funded by the European Commission. Since its inception, the European Space Agency (ESA) has led the design, development, and qualification of both space and ground systems, as well as overseeing satellite launches.

ESA is also responsible for research and development activities shaping the future of Galileo under the EU’s Horizon Europe programme. 

The EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) serves as the service provider, managing market needs, overseeing applications, and maintaining close engagement with end-users.

Galileo is the world’s most accurate satellite navigation system, serving over four billion users globally. All smartphones sold within the European Single Market are now Galileo-enabled. Additionally, the system is making a significant impact across various sectors, including rail, maritime, agriculture, financial timing services, and emergency rescue operations.

Galileo provides free positioning and navigation services to the public, alongside tailored services for specialised applications, including the encrypted PRS, which is exclusively accessible to government-authorised users in EU Member States.

Galileo’s exceptional precision and accuracy are made possible by technological contributions from Leonardo, which plays a leading role in both the terrestrial and space-based components of the programme.

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