Building Europe's satellite navigation system is a complex, multi-faceted effort, involving many partners across the European continent.

Public partners

The definition, development and In-Orbit Validation phases of the Galileo programme are being carried out by ESA and co-funded with the European Commission (EC). The subsequent Full Operational Capability (FOC) phase is managed and funded by the EC.

The Commission has delegated the role of design and procurement agent to ESA for the FOC phase.

Industrial partners

The Galileo IOV satellites have been provided by EADS Astrium leading a consortium with Thales Alenia Space Italy responsible for integrating the satellites and EADS Astrium in the UK providing the payloads. For the next 22 satellites, OHB in Germany is prime contractor with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd producing the payloads.

This ‘space segment’ is only one of six work packages assigned to European industry, through which the Galileo system as a whole will be put together:

WP1: System Support – covering the overall design of the combined space and ground-based Galileo system, signed with Thales Alenia Space Italy.

WP2 Ground Mission Segment – covering the navigation service facilities, signed with Thales Alenia Space France.

WP3 Ground Control Segment – covering the satellite control facilities, signed with EADS Astrium.

WP4 Space Segment – covering the satellites, signed with EADS Astrium for the first four, OHB/SSTL for the next 14, the remaining 12 satellites to be assigned.

WP5 Launch Services – covering launchers for Galileo, signed with Arianespace.

WP6 Operations – covering preparatory and ongoing operational support, signed with Spaceopal - a joint undertaking between Italian company Telespazio and German firm Gesellschaft für Raumfahrtanwendungen (GfR) mbH, part of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) - with Inmarsat providing In-Orbit Test support.