CORVUS has been developed by a consortium led by RISE and includes the following partners: the Institute of Space Science – INFLPR branch, the Romanian Space Agency, Rartel S.A., the Special Telecommunications Service, and the Elie Carafoli National Institute for Aerospace Research and Development. The satellite and ground infrastructure were developed for the Communications and Informatics Command as part of a research project funded by the Department for Armaments through the PSCD sectoral plan. 

Its applications include the in-orbit validation of OrbFIX, a custom-made GNSS receiver that leverages artificial neural networks to achieve positioning accuracy below 10 cm, as well as the testing of a single-satellite Doppler-based algorithm for RF interference geolocation. Developed, built, and tested by RISE under a national contract, CORVUS is supported by a dedicated ground station. The satellite is currently awaiting launch and the commencement of mission operations. 

Cyberspace is now recognized as one of the main pillars of defense and the RF spectrum, its physical resource, has increased its significance as a critical national resource to be safeguarded. CORVUS is a satellite developed as a demonstrator of an orbital radio frequency (RF) sensor that monitors emissions over a wide area. The scope is the detection and localization of radio sources operating in the VHF/UHF and GNSS bands in order to identify rogue stations capable of interfering with government sanctioned operations.   

The CORVUS satellite concept is part of a broader family of SIGINT (Signal Intelligence) platforms developed to detect and locate radio frequency emissions. Several systems worldwide demonstrate similar operational principles: 
– HawkEye 360

– Vortex/Chalet and Mercury (United States)

– CERES (France)

– Luch Olymp (Russia)
Each of these systems employs a unique mix of orbital configurations, antenna technologies, and signal processing methods. Like these established platforms, CORVUS leverages advanced geolocation techniques – specifically, Frequency Difference of Arrival (FDOA) – to pinpoint radio signal sources with high accuracy. However, CORVUS is optimized for the specific operational environment of Romania, addressing regional security challenges while drawing on proven SIGINT methodologies. 

GENERAL ASPECTS OF THE CORVUS SATELLITE

1. Orbital Configuration and Coverage: CORVUS is designed to operate in a low Earth orbit (LEO) to ensure optimal coverage over Romania and neighboring regions. The satellite’s altitude and inclination are carefully selected to balance resolution, revisit times, and signal acquisition efficiency. A constellation approach can be considered for enhanced coverage and redundancy once the mission and concepts of operations were validated in orbit.  

2. Signal Detection Capabilities: The satellite is equipped with highly sensitive radio frequency receivers capable of detecting a wide range of signals, including military, commercial, and unauthorized transmissions. These receivers scan predefined frequency bands and capture signal characteristics such as frequency, bandwidth, and modulation type.  

3. Geolocation Techniques: To determine the source of detected signals, CORVUS employs FDOA: By analyzing frequency shifts due to Doppler effects, CORVUS refines the location estimates for the RF sources. 

4. Communication and Data Transmission: The satellite transmits collected data to secure ground stations via encrypted communication links. For activation as part of an operational service it is recommended to augment the CORVUS detection with a network of ground receivers that processes and verifies signal intelligence for integration into a national security framework. To ensure minimal latency, CORVUS sends pre-processed data directly to the ground station. For in-depth analysis, the satellite is capable of recording and sending, in real-time, raw RF signals to be processed on ground.