NAVSHIELD adds efficient and advanced protection to Position, Navigating, and Timing (PNT) already developed systems or future missions, including GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems), LEO-PNT, terrestrial PNT, and inertial navigation. These systems are essential for critical applications in infrastructure, telecommunications, defence, and transport. However, their vulnerability to interference and intentional attacks, such as jamming and spoofing, compromises their reliability and security. NAVSHIELD aims to develop innovative solutions for the active protection of aerial or ground assets, ensuring their functionality in hostile environments through intelligent interference mitigation technologies and signal processing algorithms.

The project will focus on the design, development, and validation of a protection system for PNT receivers based on advanced active antenna technologies and digital processing. The key expected outcomes include:

- Development of an advanced RF protection system using adaptive antennas.

- Implementation of innovative multi-tier interference mitigation algorithms and attack detection mechanisms.

- Integration of techniques for recording interferences and locating sources.

- Validation of the system in pre- operational environments.

- Generation of technological knowledge to facilitate integration into future space missions and advanced navigation systems.

NAVSHIELD project spans 24 months, with a work plan divided into seven work packages (WP):

1. Management and reporting

2. Background and feasibility studies

3. System specification and design

4. System implementation

5. Integration and testing

6. Verification and validation

7. Exploitation

Continuous Integration/Continuous Development (CI/CD) iterative procedures are envisioned among WP2, WP3, and WP4 for the production of intermediate and final versions of the designed, implemented, and integrated solution.

Relevance and Coordination with the European Commission and the European Space Agency NAVSHIELD aligns with European strategic satellite navigation programmes, including Galileo and EGNOS. The technology developed will enhance the resilience of European satellite-based PNT systems, improving their competitiveness and security. Furthermore, the project will contribute to the advancement of the Spanish space industry, facilitating participation in future missions and programmes led by the European Space Agency and the European Commission.

This project represents a key step towards the protection of critical infrastructure and the operational security of PNT systems, ensuring their reliability in an increasingly satellite navigation-dependent global context.