Programme International Cospas-sarsat

What Programme International Cospas-sarsat does

The International Cospas-Sarsat Programme is an intergovernmental organization, established in 1988 under a formal Agreement among Canada, France, Russia (formerly the USSR), and the United States, that operates the world's only dedicated satellite-based distress alert and location system for 406 MHz emergency beacons. The system detects activations from three categories of beacons — Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) for aviation, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) for maritime, and Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) for individual use — and routes alerts through Mission Control Centers (MCCs) to national Search and Rescue authorities and Rescue Coordination Centers (RCCs). It is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, and is governed by a Council composed of the four founding space-segment providers together with additional ground-segment provider and user-state participants.

The technical architecture comprises three complementary space segments: LEOSAR (low-Earth-orbit polar satellites contributed by Russia and the U.S. NOAA, enabling Doppler-based positioning), GEOSAR (geostationary satellites from the U.S., India, and EUMETSAT providing near-instantaneous alerting), and MEOSAR (medium-Earth-orbit search-and-rescue payloads hosted on GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou navigation satellites, delivering quasi-real-time global coverage). Ground segment consists of Local User Terminals (LEOLUTs, GEOLUTs, MEOLUTs) and MCCs operated by participant countries. Second-Generation Beacons (SGBs) embed GNSS coordinates directly in the beacon message and support Return Link Service (RLS) acknowledgement; the associated International Beacon Registration Database (IBRD) at 406registration.com supplies owner and emergency-contact information to SAR authorities. A QMS Automated Reporting System (QARS) continuously monitors ground-segment availability and accuracy.

Cospas-Sarsat does not sell products or services commercially. The programme is funded by its participating states, with the satellite and ground infrastructure provided by member countries (Canada, France, Russia, and the U.S. supplying the space segment; many others operating ground stations). 406 MHz beacons are manufactured and marketed by independent commercial vendors under type-approval testing performed by the programme. The system itself is provided to all states on a non-discriminatory basis at no user fee, with regulatory mandates from ICAO (aviation) and IMO/SOLAS (maritime, vessels over 300 tons since 1993) driving beacon adoption. The Secretariat in Montreal employs 11–50 staff and coordinates Council decisions, beacon type approval, system evolution, and international liaison.

Name

Programme International Cospas-sarsat

Legal name

INTERNATIONAL COSPAS SARSAT

Website

https://cospas-sarsat.int

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Cospas-Sarsat Programme is an intergovernmental organization operating the global satellite-based distress alerting system that detects 406 MHz emergency beacons and routes alerts to aviation, maritime, terrestrial, and personal search-and-rescue authorities worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Intergovernmental Programme Operations: Cospas-Sarsat is an intergovernmental programme funded by participant countries. The programme does not generate commercial revenue but coordinates satellite search and rescue infrastructure for global safety.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The International Cospas-Sarsat Programme operates a satellite-based distress alert and location system that detects 406-MHz distress beacons and distributes alerts to search and rescue authorities worldwide. The system comprises three complementary satellite constellations (LEOSAR, GEOSAR, MEOSAR), ground-based Local User Terminals (LUTs) and Mission Control Centers (MCCs), plus supporting infrastructure including the International Beacon Registration Database (IBRD) and quality monitoring systems.

Product overview

The International Cospas-Sarsat Programme operates a satellite-based distress alert and location system consisting of three complementary satellite constellations (LEOSAR, GEOSAR, and MEOSAR) working with ground segment equipment (LUTs and MCCs) and 406 MHz distress beacons (ELT for aviation, EPIRB for maritime, PLB for personal use). The system detects and locates beacon activations globally, processing distress alerts and distributing location data to Search and Rescue authorities. Supporting infrastructure includes the International Beacon Registration Database (IBRD) for beacon registration and the QMS Automated Reporting System (QARS) for quality monitoring. The Second-Generation Beacon (SGB) enables enhanced capabilities including encoded GNSS position data and return-link service (RLS) confirmation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Second-Generation Beacon (SGB): Second-Generation Beacon - Advanced 406 MHz beacon technology with improved location capabilities
• IBRD
• QMS (QARS)
• ELT(DT)

Products and services

• LEOSAR System Low Earth Orbit Search and Rescue system using polar-orbiting satellites (Cospas and Sarsat) with Doppler processing to determine beacon locations. Provides global but non-continuous coverage for satellite-based distress alerting.
• GEOSAR System Geostationary Earth Orbit Search and Rescue system using GEO satellites (GOES, INSAT, MSG) providing near-instantaneous alerting over large geographic areas. Requires encoded GNSS position data since Doppler processing is not available.
• MEOSAR System Medium Earth Orbit Search and Rescue system using GNSS constellation satellites (GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou) with SAR transponders. Combines benefits of LEOSAR and GEOSAR with near-real-time alert and independent location determination.
• 406 MHz Distress Beacons (ELT, EPIRB, PLB) Radio transmitters activated in life-threatening emergencies to summon government search and rescue assistance. Three types: ELT (aviation), EPIRB/RLS (maritime), and PLB (personal). Operating on the 406.0-406.1 MHz frequency exclusively reserved for distress beacons.
• International Beacon Registration Database (IBRD) Database for registering 406 MHz beacons, allowing search and rescue authorities to retrieve owner information, vessel/aircraft details, and emergency contacts during distress events. Central database serving global SAR operations.
• QMS Automated Reporting System (QARS) Quality Management System for continuous monitoring and assessment of ground segment equipment performance, including LEOLUT, GEOLUT, and MEOLUT availability and accuracy metrics across the global network.
• Ground Segment (LUTs and MCCs) Land Earth Terminals (LEOLUT, GEOLUT, MEOLUT) that receive and process satellite signals, and Mission Control Centers (MCCs) that distribute alert data to Rescue Coordination Centers (RCCs) and SAR Points of Contact (SPOCs). Operated by national authorities in participant countries.
• Beacon Message Decode Program Web-based tool for decoding beacon hexadecimal identification messages to verify programmed information. Available for first-generation beacons and all beacon types including RLS and ELT(DT).

Quantifiable outcome

• Alert time reduced to under 5 minutes via GEOSAR
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Cospas-Sarsat collaborates with ICAO to ensure compatibility of distress alerting services with aviation safety requirements and standards. ICAO President Toshiyuki Onuma visited the Cospas-Sarsat Secretariat in May 2026 to discuss ELT(DT) beacon developments and autonomous distress tracking.
• Canada (Department of National Defence)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 1988Founding party to the 1988 Agreement relating to the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme. Canada provides satellite instruments and participates in ground segment operations through the Department of National Defence.
• France (CNES)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 1988Founding party to the 1988 Agreement. The French Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) contributes satellite SAR instruments and participates in programme governance through the Council.
• Russia (formerly USSR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 1988Founding party providing Cospas satellites in quasi-polar orbits at 1000 km altitude equipped with 406 MHz SAR instruments. The Ministry of the Merchant Marine (MORFLOT) originally represented the USSR.
• United States (NOAA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 1988Founding party providing NOAA weather satellites in sun-synchronous quasi-polar orbits at approximately 850 km altitude, equipped with 406 MHz SAR instruments. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration manages the space segment contribution.
• International Maritime Organization (IMO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCospas-Sarsat cooperates with IMO to ensure compatibility with maritime safety requirements. IMO established GMDSS regulations mandating 406 MHz EPIRBs for SOLAS vessels since 1993.
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCospas-Sarsat works with ITU on spectrum allocation and technical standards for 406 MHz distress beacon frequency band.
• EUMETSATmajorTechnology or IntegrationEuropean Organisation for the Exploitation of Satellites provides GEOSAR satellite coverage through MSG (Meteosat Second Generation) satellites equipped with 406 MHz SAR transponders.
• India (INSAT)majorTechnology or IntegrationIndia contributes to GEOSAR satellite coverage through INSAT (Indian National Satellite System) satellites equipped with 406 MHz SAR repeaters.
• GPS Constellation OperatorsmajorTechnology or IntegrationUnited States GPS satellite constellation equipped with SAR transponders for MEOSAR functionality, enabling medium earth orbit distress signal detection and location.
• GLONASS Constellation OperatorsmajorTechnology or IntegrationRussian GLONASS satellite constellation equipped with SAR transponders for MEOSAR functionality, contributing to global distress alerting coverage.
• Galileo Constellation OperatorsmajorTechnology or IntegrationEuropean Galileo satellite constellation equipped with SAR transponders for MEOSAR functionality, providing global coverage enhancement.
• BeiDou Constellation OperatorsmajorTechnology or IntegrationChinese BeiDou satellite constellation equipped with SAR transponders for MEOSAR functionality, contributing to medium earth orbit search and rescue coverage.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CospasSarsatProgram/featured
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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Programme International Cospas-sarsat