Alternative PNT & GNSS-Denied Navigation: Technology Landscape & European Strategic Autonomy
Satellite-based Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) systems such as GPS and Galileo have become foundational to both civil infrastructure and military operations across Europe. From synchronising power grids and financial networks to enabling precision strike and autonomous systems, their signals support nearly every dimension of modern life. However, this reliance creates a systemic vulnerability: PNT disruption—whether due to jamming, spoofing, or satellite degradation—can result in cascading operational failures. Recent incidents in Ukraine, the Baltic and the Mediterranean have demonstrated that GNSS interference is no longer hypothetical, but a recurring element of hybrid and electronic warfare. European authorities have begun to recognise the urgency of this issue, framing PNT resilience as critical infrastructure protection and a requirement for strategic autonomy.
This report provides a detailed, technology-by-technology assessment of Europe’s alternative PNT (A-PNT) landscape. It maps the main families of non-GNSS solutions—vision-based navigation, inertial systems, quantum sensors, signals of opportunity, geomagnetic methods, and resilient timing architectures—alongside their integration in multi-layer sensor fusion systems. Each section combines technical explanation, industrial mapping, and strategic analysis. Particular attention is given to the maturity of different solutions, current operational deployments, and alignment with NATO and EU priorities. The report also includes a risk register, identifies structural gaps, and offers a forward-looking roadmap for policy and funding alignment. A supplementary set of downloadable annexes provides database-ready tables on strategic regulation, infrastructure assets, funding instruments, compliance standards, national policies, and SWOT matrices for industry actors.
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