Image: Conceptual graphic of UK eLoran timing coverage – Mitch Narins, Strategic Synergies
What’s new: France and the UK partnering on resilient PNT including eLoran.
Why it’s important: France is the first EU nation to begin concrete actions to provide a terrestrial broadcast capability to backup timing from GNSS.
What else to know: This is also a good sign of post-Brexit warming and cooperation. Note the references made to jamming, spoofing, and Ukraine. Not said, but the elephant in the room – Russia!
UK and France Renew Ties, Resilient PNT, eLoran a Key Part
British officials and French President Macron have announced collaborative efforts on a range of advanced technologies that includes resilient positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) such as eLoran.
The announcement on resilient PNT to protect infrastructure was made during the French President’s visit to Imperial College, London. The event was part of the first state visit of a European leader since Brexit.
DR Peter Kyle, the UK’s Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, said “…we are building resilient and innovative positioning, navigation, and timing systems to contribute towards European collective security.”
The partnership between the two nations also includes work on AI super computing infrastructure and AI research.
The UK had previously established a project to expand its eLoran capability from a single site providing a timing signal to six that will provide high power, low frequency PNT for the British Isles and their maritime regions. One or more timing signals from this network will also reach and be usable across much of northern and western Europe. With minimal investment France and other European nations will be able to take advantage of those signals and, if desired, improve local service to a full PNT service with their own primary and/or differential transmitter sites.
A British government press release said:
“UK and French experts will work more closely to increase the resilience of both countries’ critical infrastructure to the signal-jamming seen in the war in Ukraine, as part of a suite of joint science and tech work being announced today (Thursday 10 July).
From our electricity infrastructure, to transport, to financial transactions, the tech we rely on for everyday life depends on reliable Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT), often provided via satellites. The conflict in Ukraine has shown how new technologies – in some cases, just small hand-held devices – can be used to disrupt PNT services, potentially causing major disruption to the vast areas of life and the economy reliant on them.”
After Brexit, the United Kingdom was excluded from the Galileo project, much to the chagrin of many in Britain and Europe. Providing eLoran timing signals to Europe, especially in the face of chronic GNSS interference experienced in the Baltic and elsewhere, is seen by many as a technical and diplomatic triumphal comeback for the nation.
This partnership is also seen by many as a noteworthy leadership move for France. While the EU has expressed concern for years about interference with GNSS, France is leading the continent in proactively addressing the issues. That it has taken the initiative for post-Brexit rapprochement with the UK adds to its status as a leader on the continent.
Here is the French President’s and UK Prime Minister’s joint statement: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-france-leaders-declaration “We will also work towards a resilient terrestrial alternative to Global Navigation Satellite Systems.”