Ryan Malloy
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Cospas-Sarsat specification summaries moved to reference/ for internal use only. Links updated to point to official cospas-sarsat.int site. The extracted images remain in public/ for use in other pages.
412 lines
17 KiB
Markdown
412 lines
17 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: "P017: Declaration Of Intent"
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description: "Official Cospas-Sarsat P-series document P017"
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sidebar:
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badge:
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text: "P"
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variant: "note"
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# Extended Cospas-Sarsat metadata
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documentId: "P017"
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series: "P"
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seriesName: "Programme"
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documentType: "programme"
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isLatest: true
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documentDate: "July 1988"
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---
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> **📋 Document Information**
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>
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> **Series:** P-Series (Programme)
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> **Date:** July 1988
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> **Source:** [Cospas-Sarsat Official Documents](https://www.cospas-sarsat.int/en/documents-pro/system-documents)
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---
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# C/S P.017
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**DECLARATION OF INTENT**
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**BETWEEN THE CO-OPERATING AGENCIES**
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**OF THE INTERNATIONAL COSPAS-SARSAT PROGRAMME**
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**AND THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION**
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**FOR CO-OPERATION ON THE INITIAL OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY OF THE**
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**COSPAS-SARSAT MEDIUM-ALTITUDE EARTH ORBIT SEARCH AND RESCUE**
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**(MEOSAR) SATELLITE SYSTEM**
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The Co-operating Agencies of the International COSPAS-SARSAT Programme and the
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European Commission hereinafter referred to as the Signatories:
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NOTING the successful implementation of the COSPAS-SARSAT search-and-rescue Satellite
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System currently operated under the terms of the International COSPAS-SARSAT Programme
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Agreement, done at Paris on 1 July 1988;
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NOTING the continued operation of the COSPAS-SARSAT System and its significant
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international contribution to the saving of human lives for more than thirty years through the use
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of search-and-rescue instruments on satellites in low-altitude Earth orbit (LEOSAR) and
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geostationary Earth orbit (GEOSAR);
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NOTING the commitment of the COSPAS-SARSAT Parties to the Agreement to assure the
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long-term operation of the COSPAS-SARSAT System and access to this System to all States on
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a non-discriminatory basis, and free of charge to the end-user in distress;
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RECOGNIZING that parallel efforts are being undertaken by the Russian Federation, the United
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States of America, and the European Union in the investigation of enhancing global satelliteaided search and rescue by placing 406-MHz transponders on the satellites of Global Navigation
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Satellite Systems (GNSS) in medium-altitude Earth orbit, respectively known as GLONASS,
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GPS, and GALILEO;
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NOTING the COSPAS-SARSAT Council decision, made at its Thirty-Second Session in April
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2004, that it was desirable for the Russian Federation, the United States of America, and the
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European Union to coordinate their respective GNSS and MEOSAR systems’ planning and
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developmental activities to ensure that the systems would be compatible with the existing
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COSPAS-SARSAT System, and to the greatest extent possible, interoperable at the user level;
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NOTING the COSPAS-SARSAT Parties’ desire to co-operate on matters related to the use of the
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location services developed under the GALILEO, GPS and GLONASS programmes and by
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global search-and-rescue services at appropriate COSPAS-SARSAT fora;
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RECALLING the Declaration of Intent for Co-operation on the Development and Evaluation of
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the Medium-Altitude Earth Orbit Search-and-Rescue (MEOSAR) Satellite System between the
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Co-operating Agencies of the International COSPAS-SARSAT Programme and the Galileo Joint
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Undertaking, thereafter assigned to the European GNSS Supervisory Authority, and then to the
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European Commission, which was signed in 2006;
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NOTING the Regulation (EU) N°1285/2013 of the European Parliament and the Council of the
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European Union on the implementation and exploitation of European satellite navigation systems
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and in particular the obligations of the European Commission defined in it;
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NOTING FURTHER that the European Union, through the implementation of the GALILEO
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Programme, aims to become one of the core providers of segments of the future COSPASSARSAT MEOSAR system;
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DECLARE their intent as follows:
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**1.** **Definitions**
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- “ **Agreement** ” means the International COSPAS-SARSAT Programme Agreement, done at
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Paris on 1 July 1988.
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- **“Compatibility”** means that the MEOSAR components are capable of orderly and efficient
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integration and operation with the COSPAS-SARSAT System, and that they are able to
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coexist on a non-interfering basis with each other and with the existing COSPAS-SARSAT
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System.
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- **“Co-operating Agencies”** means the agencies designated by the four COSPAS-SARSAT
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Parties for the purpose of implementing the Programme.
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- **“COSPAS-SARSAT Parties”** means the Parties to the Agreement.
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- **“COSPAS-SARSAT System”** means the satellite-aided search-and-rescue (SAR) system
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comprising:
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a) the low-altitude Earth-orbiting satellites of the LEOSAR space segment described
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in Article 3 of the Agreement;
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b) the medium-altitude Earth-orbiting satellites of the MEOSAR space segment, as
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decided by the Council pursuant to Article 3.2 of the Agreement;
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c) the geostationary Earth-orbiting satellites of the GEOSAR space segment, as
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decided by the Council pursuant to Article 3.2 of the Agreement;
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d) the ground segment established by the COSPAS-SARSAT Parties or by Ground
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Segment Providers under the terms of the Agreement, including Local User
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Terminals operating with the LEOSAR, MEOSAR and GEOSAR satellites and
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Mission Control Centres (MCCs); and
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e) radiobeacons operating at 406-MHz frequencies as described at Article 3 of the
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Agreement, including the radiobeacons authorized by User States under the terms
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of the Agreement, or by other States that avail themselves of the System.
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**-** **“Council”** means the COSPAS-SARSAT Council established pursuant to the Agreement.
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**-** **“Declaration”** means the present Declaration of Intent Between the Co-operating Agencies
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of the International COSPAS-SARSAT Programme and the European Commission for Cooperation on the Initial Operational Capability of the Medium-altitude Earth Orbit Search
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and Rescue (MEOSAR) Satellite System.
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**-** **“Definition and development phase”** means the phase during which the Signatories
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focused on identifying MEOSAR system functional and performance requirements,
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creating detailed technical specifications, and on matters relating to MEOSAR and
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COSPAS-SARSAT system compatibility.
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**-** **“Demonstration and evaluation phase” (D&E)** means the phase during which the
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MEOSAR component providers, and States and Organizations associated with COSPASSARSAT under the Agreement, focus on characterising the technical and operational
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performance of the MEOSAR system as determined by on-orbit trials, evaluating the
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operational effectiveness and the benefits to SAR services, and providing a basis for a
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Council decision on the use of the MEOSAR system operationally.
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**-** **“GALILEO”** means the planned medium-altitude Earth-orbit global navigation satellite
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System established under the Galileo Programme being developed and implemented by the
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European Union.
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**-** **“Global Positioning System (GPS)”** means the medium-altitude Earth orbit global
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navigation satellite system operated and maintained by the United States of America.
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**-** **“GLONASS”** means the medium-altitude Earth orbit global navigation satellite system
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operated and maintained by the Russian Federation.
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**-** **“Interoperability”** means that the components of the MEOSAR system conform to a
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common architecture and comply with mutually decided upon performance standards, and
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that similar satellite downlink characteristics allow ground stations to track satellites and
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process signals from all MEOSAR constellations.
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**-** **“MEOSAR component provider”** means the European Commission and the COSPASSARSAT Parties that contribute to the MEOSAR space segment.
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**-** **“MEOSAR system”** means the 406-MHz SAR instruments on GALILEO, GLONASS,
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and GPS medium-altitude Earth orbit navigation satellite systems, and the ground stations
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for receiving and processing 406-MHz radiobeacon transmissions.
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**-** **“MEOSAR Initial Operational Capability (IOC) phase”** means the MEOSAR
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operational phase prior to Full Operational Capability (FOC), declared by the Council, with
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the following characteristics and capabilities:
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- SAR transponders installed aboard medium-altitude Earth orbit (MEO) satellites, relaying
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406-MHz radiobeacon signals to Local User Terminals of the MEOSAR system
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(MEOLUTs), when such facilities have been formally commissioned into the COSPASSARSAT system;
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- MEOLUTs generate detection and localisation data provided to the COSPAS-SARSAT
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network of MCCs for use operationally by those MCCs to support SAR operations;
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- the MEOSAR IOC coverage may not be global and therefore the COSPAS-SARSAT
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system relies on the complementarity among the LEOSAR, GEOSAR and MEOSAR
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system components.
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**-** **“MEOSAR Full Operational Capability (FOC) phase”** means the operational phase of
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the MEOSAR system, declared by Council, with the following characteristics and
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capabilities:
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- SAR transponders installed aboard MEO satellites, relaying 406-MHz radiobeacon
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signals to MEOLUTs, when such facilities have been formally commissioned into the
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COSPAS-SARSAT system;
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- MEOLUTs generate detection and localisation data provided to the COSPAS-SARSAT
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network of MCCs, commissioned for MEOSAR, for use operationally by those MCCs to
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support SAR operations;
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- the MEOSAR FOC coverage is global and therefore the COSPAS-SARSAT system can
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rely entirely on the MEOSAR system for the provision of COSPAS-SARSAT services.
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**-** **“Programme”** means those activities carried out by the COSPAS-SARSAT Parties under
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the terms of the Agreement, to provide, operate and coordinate the COSPAS-SARSAT
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System in accordance with the Agreement.
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**2.** **Objective and Scope of the Declaration**
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2.1 The Signatories intend to co-operate in the IOC phase of the MEOSAR system in order to
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make available on an operational basis the detection and localization data from
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commissioned MEOSAR system facilities and provide related services such as the Return
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Link Service (RLS), and ultimately deploy a fully operational MEOSAR system.
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2.2 The scope of this Declaration is limited to the IOC phase of the MEOSAR system
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implementation. The Signatories intend to conduct discussions regarding a follow-on
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instrument for co-operation on MEOSAR system operations which would apply when the
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transition from the MEOSAR IOC phase to the MEOSAR FOC phase is satisfactorily
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completed.
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**3.** **Principles of Co-operation**
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3.1 Nothing in this Declaration is intended to imply any required exchange of resources or
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technology among the Signatories for the implementation of their co-operation in the
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MEOSAR IOC phase.
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3.2 The Signatories understand that there will be no exchange of funds under this Declaration
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to implement the MEOSAR IOC phase.
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3.3 The Signatories intend to carry out the co-ordination and actions necessary to achieve
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compatibility with the existing COSPAS-SARSAT System and interoperability between
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MEOSAR components as outlined in document C/S R.012 “COSPAS-SARSAT 406 MHz
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MEOSAR Implementation Plan”.
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**4.** **Radio Frequency Coordination**
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4.1 The Signatories intend to co-operate to ensure that MEOSAR space segment is designed
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and developed to successfully process the transmissions of 406-MHz radiobeacons that
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meet the requirements of document C/S T.001 “Specification for COSPAS-SARSAT 406
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MHz Distress Beacons”, and to ensure that their contributions:
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a) do not cause harmful interference to the existing LEOSAR and GEOSAR systems;
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b) do not cause harmful interference to other components of the MEOSAR system;
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c) do not cause harmful interference to other existing systems operating within or
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outside the downlink frequency band; and
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d) allow interoperability at both the ground station and user levels.
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4.2 The Signatories note that the interoperability parameters are given in document C/S R.012
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“COSPAS-SARSAT 406 MHz MEOSAR Implementation Plan”.
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4.3 The Signatories intend to co-operate in accordance with the legal framework of the
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International Telecommunication Union, including as well as with its recommendations.
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**5.** **COSPAS-SARSAT MEOSAR IOC phase**
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5.1 The Signatories intend to exchange status and implementation-progress information during
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the MEOSAR IOC phase. The Signatories intend to work jointly to update the document
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C/S R.012 “COSPAS-SARSAT 406 MHz MEOSAR Implementation Plan” to maintain it
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in the most current state practicable.
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5.2 To contribute to the COSPAS-SARSAT MEOSAR IOC phase, the European Commission
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intends:
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a) to deploy 406-MHz SAR transponders embarked on the GALILEO satellites and
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achieve a minimum constellation size of twelve operational SAR/GALILEO
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transponders at the time of entry into the MEOSAR IOC phase;
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b) to deploy the SAR/GALILEO Ground Segment, consisting of three MEOLUTs and
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the MEOLUT Tracking Coordination Facility (MTCF);
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c) to establish the Return Link Service Provider (RLSP) for the generation of
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acknowledgment messages to RLS enabled radiobeacons; and
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d) to commission the SAR/GALILEO space and ground segments according to the
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COSPAS-SARSAT commissioning standards.
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5.3 In the context of the COSPAS-SARSAT MEOSAR IOC phase, the Co-operating Agencies
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intend:
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a) to co-operate in the commissioning of the SAR/GALILEO ground segment within
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the COSPAS-SARSAT system including co-operation in the preparation of
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necessary Council documents once demonstration has been made of the compliance
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of the SAR/GALILEO ground segment with the MEOLUT specifications and
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commissioning standards;
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b) to co-operate with the European Commission in its objective to declare, when ready,
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the SAR/GALILEO service at IOC status, in anticipation of the formal MEOSAR
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IOC declaration by the Council, and to recognize commissioned SAR/GALILEO
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facilities as an operational contribution to the COSPAS-SARSAT System; and
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c) to ensure the integration of the SAR/GALILEO RLS within the COSPAS-SARSAT
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System, which involves in particular the implementation of necessary upgrades
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within the MCCs, and updated specifications and standards for approval of current
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and future beacons to allow this integration.
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**6.** **Modalities**
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6.1 The Signatories recognize that their co-operation under this Declaration is intended to be
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implemented within the framework of the existing Programme management structure,
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defined by the Council and detailed in document C/S P.011 “COSPAS-SARSAT
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Programme Management Policy”. For the purposes of carrying out the activities
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envisioned in this Declaration, the Co-operating Agencies intend to have the European
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Commission invited to participate in Programme meetings, including those of:
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a) the Closed and Open meetings of the Council sessions, only with respect to program
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evolution and planning matters;
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b) the Joint Committee, only to address technical and operational activities, to include
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the creation or modification of specifications and documents concerning the
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MEOSAR space and ground segments;
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c) Task Groups established to address specific technical and operational matters of joint
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interest; and
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d) Experts Working Groups to address matters of specific interest to the Signatories.
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6.2 When the European Commission has been invited in accordance with 6.1, the European
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Commission may submit papers to the meetings addressing points of the agenda related to
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matters under its competence or within its field of expertise in accordance with document
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C/S P.011 “COSPAS-SARSAT Programme Management Policy”. Contributions to
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Closed sessions of the Council may only take the form of information papers, unless the
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Council specifically has invited another form of contribution (e.g., a working paper). Cooperating Agencies intend to have the European Commission invited to make interventions
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addressing points of the agenda related to matters under its competence or within its field
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of expertise. Consistent with Article 8 of the Agreement, the European Commission will
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not participate in Council decision-making.
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**7.** **International Fora**
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The Signatories also intend to co-operate on matters of mutual interest related to satellite-aided
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search-and-rescue which are considered within the framework of the International Civil Aviation
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Organization, the International Maritime Organization, the International Telecommunication
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Union, and other relevant organizations.
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**8.** **Status**
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This Declaration is not a binding international agreement and does not create for the Signatories
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rights and obligations governed by international law.
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**9.** **Final Provisions**
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9.1 This Declaration applies on the date on which the Council declares the start of the
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MEOSAR IOC phase.
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9.2 This Declaration may be amended by the Signatories by their mutual written consent.
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9.3 A Signatory may cease its activities within the scope of this Declaration by a written notice
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to the other Signatories.
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Signed in 6 (six) originals in each of the English, French and Russian languages, each version
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being equally valid.
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**For the European Commission**
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__________________________________
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**For the National SAR Secretariat (NSS), Co-operating Agency of Canada**
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__________________________________
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**For the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), Co-operating Agency of the French**
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**Republic**
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__________________________________
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**For Federal State Unitary Enterprise Morsviazsputnik, Co-operating Agency of the**
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**Russian Federation**
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__________________________________
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**For the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Co-operating Agency of the**
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**United States of America**
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__________________________________ |