Four new second-generation satellites for the Galileo fleet

The European Space Agency (ESA) has extended contracts to build four new Galileo second-generation satellites, set for completion and launch by 2031. This expansion will increase the Galileo fleet from 12 to 16 satellites. Contracts were signed in Rome and Ottobrunn, Germany, with Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space. The new satellites will feature advanced navigation payloads and improved performance. Ongoing development and testing for the first twelve G2 satellites are nearing completion, with the first launch scheduled for 2028. Galileo is recognized as the world's most precise satellite navigation system, serving various sectors.