EUSPA awards GMV for Galileo Emergency Alert System upgrade

The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) has awarded GMV a framework contract to deliver new Galileo functionalities under the EmeRgency Alerting System (ERAS). This four-year contract, valued at approximately $6 million, will enable significant advancements in Europe’s disaster response capabilities. The GMV-led consortium includes Ineco, ALTEN Spain and Kineton as subcontractors.

ERAS will primarily allow Member States’ National Civil Protection Authorities to broadcast emergency warning messages directly to populations in at-risk or affected areas. These alerts will be transmitted via Galileo satellites to smartphones and other Galileo-enabled devices. According to EUSPA, the messages will contain crucial information about the hazard, including its type, severity, affected area, expected onset and duration, as well as guidance for appropriate responses.

The Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite Service (EWSS) and ERAS seek to enhance Galileo by offering resilience and complementarity to existing public warning systems, independence from terrestrial and mobile networks, rapid communication with global reach and particular benefits for remote areas with limited mobile coverage.

The system is designed to provide a robust and versatile solution for emergency communications, ensuring that critical alerts reach populations even in challenging scenarios. ERAS is expected to be fully operational in the first half of 2026.

The implementation of ERAS comes at a critical time, as highlighted by the State of the Climate in Europe (ESOTC) report for 2024. Europe has experienced numerous extreme weather events in recent years, including heat waves, forest fires, floods and droughts. The continent is warming at approximately twice the global average rate, emphasizing the urgent need for effective warning systems and robust climate policies, GMV shared.

The joint use of Galileo ERAS and the Copernicus Emergency Management Service seeks to enhance the European Union’s and its Member States’ disaster management capabilities. This integration will provide a comprehensive approach to alerting populations about risks such as the recent disasters in Valencia, Spain and other parts of Europe.