Dubaï, November 19, 2025 – The National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC) and Thales Alenia Space, a three way partnership between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%) cooperate to discover alternatives in the discipline of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) area navigation methods.
The rising dependence of our economies and day by day lives on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) is driving a outstanding wave of innovation, resulting in groundbreaking applied sciences that ship enhanced resilience and exponentially improved efficiency. At the forefront of this revolution, LEO PNT – Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation, and Timing – is rising at present as an actual game-changer.
Indeed, LEO PNT satellites will present assured and sovereign centimeter location accuracy, robustness, resistance towards jamming and spoofing in addition to low latency (very quick acquisition). LEO-PNT will thus permit serving rising functions as excessive degree autonomy vehicles together with persistent protection in dense city areas, unmanned aerial & maritime automobiles or 5G/6G floor telecommunication community synchronization.
From left to proper: David Philipona, Vice President Navigation Domain France at Thales Alenia Space and Ali Al Shehhi, Director of NSSTC.
Recognizing the strategic significance of LEO PNT, the NSSTC is working carefully with Thales Alenia Space, a worldwide chief in satellite navigation and area applied sciences, to discover alternatives in this domain. This partnership was first formalized via the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Paris Air Show 2025, establishing a typical framework for cooperation. Building on that basis, each events have simply signed a brand new settlement, marking the begin of joint technical research and engineering actions centered on regulatory safety and system design components for LEO PNT.
This collaboration displays a typical imaginative and prescient to discover progressive pathways that may improve the robustness and sovereignty of future navigation companies, whereas deepening worldwide cooperation and data trade between the UAE and Europe in the discipline of area expertise.
“This collaboration marks an important step toward building the UAE’s next-generation navigation capabilities. LEO PNT will bring a new level of precision and resilience, and working with Thales Alenia Space allows us to accelerate our path toward a sovereign system that supports the UAE’s long-term strategic vision.” mentioned Ali Al Shehhi, Director of NSSTC.
“LEO PNT is a game changer in satellite navigation in terms of increased precision, resilience and signal penetration enabling new applications and economic growth. We are proud to offer our solid expertise in satellite navigation to the NSSTC, thereby strengthening our collaboration with the United Arab Emirates in the space domain.” mentioned Hervé Derrey, CEO of Thales Alenia Space.
About the National Space Science and Technology Center
The National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC) was established in 2016, with a transparent mandate to advance the UAE’s capabilities in Earth Observation and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) applied sciences. NSSTC performs a central function in the design, improvement, and operation of superior satellite missions that serve each nationwide priorities and world challenges.
At the coronary heart of NSSTC’s mission is a leadership-driven strategic mindset that focuses on bridging academia and business a mannequin that not solely accelerates innovation but in addition ensures the sustainable improvement of native experience in high-technology sectors. The Center gives college students, researchers, and engineers actual entry to flight applications, enabling hands-on expertise and significant participation in mission supply.
NSSTC operates the UAE’s solely complete Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) facility, able to supporting the full lifecycle of satellite improvement from element integration to thermal and vibration testing empowering the nation to construct and qualify area methods in-house.
Flagship initiatives akin to the Satellite 813 hyperspectral mission and the LEONAV LEO-PNT expertise demonstrator underscore NSSTC’s rising affect. Through worldwide partnerships and shut coordination with UAE stakeholders, NSSTC is shaping the subsequent era of area capabilities and serving to place the UAE as a worldwide contributor to the area sector.
About Thales Alenia Space
Drawing on over 40 years of expertise and a novel mixture of expertise, experience and cultures, Thales Alenia Space delivers cost-effective options for telecommunications, navigation, Earth statement, environmental monitoring, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Governments and personal business alike depend on Thales Alenia Space to design satellite-based methods that present anytime, anyplace connections and positioning, monitor our planet, improve administration of its assets and discover our Solar System and past. Thales Alenia Space sees area as a brand new horizon, serving to construct a greater, extra sustainable life on Earth. A three way partnership between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space additionally groups up with Telespazio to type the Space Alliance, which gives an entire vary of options together with companies. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of €2.23 billion in 2024 and has greater than 8,100 workers in 7 international locations with 14 websites in Europe. www.thalesaleniaspace.com