Cospas Sarsat Testing & Certification Services UK

Cospas-Sarsat is an international satellite-based search and rescue system. Cospas-Sarsat detects and locates emergency distress beacons used by aircraft, ships, and personal users. The system uses satellites to relay distress signals to rescue coordination centres. Cospas-Sarsat has helped rescue more than 60,000 people worldwide since operations began in 1982.

Cospas-Sarsat is currently deploying its new MEOSAR (Medium Earth Orbit Search and Rescue System) programme. This will greatly improve the existing search and rescue (SAR) process by delivering global coverage, near-instantaneous distress beacon detection and a unique Return Link Service (RLS) feature that acknowledges distress signal receipt.

Cospas-Sarsat member nations are also driving the transition to Second Generation Beacons (SGB) for aviation, maritime and outdoor search and rescue applications. Designed to work with MEOSAR and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technologies, these next-generation beacons offer enhanced capabilities such as improved location accuracy, Return Link Service (RLS) functionality and additional features that support faster, more effective rescue operations. The SGB framework is defined in Cospas-Sarsat specification C/S T.018, with type approval covered by C/S T.021. 

TÜV SÜD supports manufacturers in most countries in particular Europe, the US, Japan, South Korea and China.

Cospas-Sarsat testing is important because it verifies that emergency beacons transmit accurate distress signals to satellites and rescue coordination centers. Testing helps confirm beacon reliability, location accuracy, and regulatory compliance. Reliable Cospas-Sarsat performance reduces search time, improves rescue response, and increases survival rates during maritime, aviation, and outdoor emergencies.

As the market evolves, manufacturers need to demonstrate compliance with both established and emerging Cospas-Sarsat requirements. This means addressing First Generation Beacon standards such as C/S T.001 and C/S T.007, while also preparing for Second Generation Beacon standards including C/S T.018 and C/S T.021. For businesses developing new beacons and antennas, this creates an opportunity to bring more advanced, future-ready products to market with confidence, particularly where MEOSAR compatibility, GNSS performance and features such as RLS are key differentiators.

The nature of these devices demands that they comply with some strenuous approval standards before they can be put into use. Manufacturers must therefore prove that products have the build quality to remain operational, even in the most extreme conditions, without electromagnetic disturbances interfering with functionality. In addition, devices usually need to be certified for compliance with local legislation before being deployed. All of this must be achieved in a short timescale to ensure that demanding time to market deadlines are achieved.

Cospas-Sarsat combines two search and rescue satellite system names: COSPAS and SARSAT. COSPAS is a Russian acronym that translates to "Space-based System for Locating Vessels in Distress" (from the Russian Cosmicheskaya Sistema Poiska Avariynyh Sudov)  SARSAT stands for Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking.

Cospas-Sarsat testing verifies that 406 MHz distress beacons meet the technical requirements needed for reliable detection, location performance and type approval.

Cospas-Sarsat uses a satellite network across low Earth orbit, geostationary orbit and medium Earth orbit. The number of active satellites can change as new MEOSAR capability is deployed and older systems are updated.

Cospas-Sarsat accuracy depends on the beacon type, satellite system, GNSS capability and operating conditions. MEOSAR-compatible beacons with GNSS can support faster detection and more accurate location data.