UK Considers Building Galileo Rival
Date: Thursday, April 26 @ 03:33:28 UTC
Topic:
Given we were struggling to pay the mounting costs of Galileo, news that we are now considering our own rival to the satellite network may come as a surprise.
According to the Financial Times, Business Secretary Greg Clark is taking legal advice on whether we can recover the £1.2bn we have already paid into the Galileo program after the UK was told it would not have access to key elements of the service post Brexit.
The row centres on the secure network that Galileo will offer to Governments and their armed forces. Reports suggest that whilst we will continue to have access to basic navigation service, the enhanced secure service would not be available.
He told BBC News: "The UK's preference is to remain in Galileo as part of a strong security partnership with Europe.
"If Galileo no longer meets our security requirements and UK industry cannot compete on a fair basis, it is logical to look at alternatives."
Graham Turnock, chief executive of the UK Space Agency, said early feasibility work was under way into a UK system, which he said would cost a "lot less" than Galileo, thanks to work already done and "British know-how and ingenuity".
Asked by the BBC's Science Correspondent Jonathan Amos if it could be as much as £5bn, he said "tops".
The reality is, of course, that this is nothing more than a counter position in negotiations on ongoing access, whilst we undoubtedly have the technical abilities required to design our own rival network, the costs would be huge and we have no launch capabilities of our own.
bbc.co.uk
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