For many decades, satellite constellations have been the mainstay of global navigation and communication across aviation, maritime, and numerous other sectors. For instance, the Russian GLONASS, similar to the US GPS, depends on a constellation of satellites to deliver positioning and timing information.
However, satellites are naturally vulnerable: they can be intercepted, attacked by hackers, disrupted by electronic warfare, or become unusable due to issues like orbit decay, space weather, or political problems. For organizations that need reliable control over navigation and communication—especially for UAVs, drones, self-driving cars, or critical infrastructure—relying only on satellite systems can be very risky.
Enter GEOCOSMOS. Introduced by ZALA in 2025, this system eliminates reliance on satellites and mobile networks. Instead, it seeks to establish an extensive terrestrial—ground-based—network of communication and navigation infrastructure.
According to ZALA and its chief designer, Alexander Zakharov, GEOCOSMOS could act like a ground version of space services—a “ground-Starlink”—that would allow drones and planes to operate reliably without needing satellites.
This change means more than just new technology; it also gives us a strategic option in a situation where satellite infrastructure is very valuable but also very vulnerable, and where government control of communication and navigation is becoming more important for national security, civil aviation, and industry.
Architecture and Functionality of GEOCOSMOS
At the heart of GEOCOSMOS lies a distributed network consisting of ground stations and onboard transceiver devices, which collectively establish an autonomous framework for communications and navigation. Unlike conventional satellite-dependent GNSS systems, GEOCOSMOS functions exclusively via terrestrial infrastructure, providing a distinctive framework in which navigation and communication are anchored on Earth rather than dependent on orbiting satellites.
The proposed network comprises approximately 12,000 ground-based stations interconnected via fiber-optic links. This comprehensive fiber-optic backbone facilitates the synchronization of signals across all stations, guaranteeing accurate timing and coordination. Each station is outfitted with software-defined transceivers (SDRs), radios that can be reprogrammed through software rather than necessitating hardware modifications. These SDRs work over a broad range of frequencies from 30 MHz to 8 GHz, allowing them to adjust to interference, changing environmental conditions, and deliberate electronic attacks. This capability offers substantial resilience and robustness to the system.
Alongside ground stations, onboard receivers and transceivers mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles, aircraft, and autonomous vehicles serve as repeaters or relays. This indicates that each node, whether terrestrial or airborne, plays a role in extending the network’s reach, thereby enhancing coverage and operational range. This design establishes a mesh network that enables reliable communication connections, even in difficult terrains or remote regions where satellite signals may be obstructed or inadequate.
GEOCOSMOS is capable of determining the position of objects even with signals received from a single base station; however, its accuracy and coverage are markedly enhanced as the density of stations increases. With a planned deployment of 12,000 stations, the network endeavors to deliver high-precision services. This terrestrial system accommodates a range of aerial vehicles, seamlessly integrating unmanned drones and manned aircraft within a shared airspace, providing a unified navigation and communication framework that functions reliably even in the absence of satellite or cellular network connectivity.
Overall, GEOCOSMOS represents a completely new way of handling navigation and communication by turning the Earth into a full communication and navigation network, removing the need for satellites and creating a ground-based system for different uses in aviation, self-driving cars, and other fields.
Use Cases: Potential Areas of Excellence for GEOCOSMOS
Due to its design advantages, GEOCOSMOS is not simply a niche solution—it contains the potential to influence various civilian and military sectors in meaningful ways.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Drones, and Airspace Regulation
One of the main applications involves the management of UAVs within intricate airspace environments. GEOCOSMOS facilitates secure data transmission with minimal latency—a critical requirement for the command and control (C2) of drones or autonomous aerial vehicles.
Where conventional satellite navigation may be disrupted, manipulated, or inaccessible—such as in contested areas or remote and urban regions with signal obstructions—a ground-based system can ensure consistent and dependable control. According to ZALA, the system has previously been tested on UAVs, with reports indicating that certain ZALA drones have conducted reconnaissance and strike correction operations under electronic warfare conditions at distances exceeding 100 km from the front line.
Furthermore, as GEOCOSMOS facilitates the operation of both unmanned and manned aircraft within the same airspace, it has the potential to contribute to the development of an integrated air traffic management infrastructure—particularly significant given the increasing prevalence of drones and upcoming autonomous aircraft.
Autonomous Transportation and Essential Infrastructure
Beyond aviation, GEOCOSMOS is being considered for the management of autonomous ground vehicles or the coordination of systems in the event of cellular and satellite connectivity failures—such as in remote locations, during network outages, or in instances of intentional electronic interference.
Furthermore, ZALA proposes applications across industrial, energy, transportation, and emergency services sectors, ranging from infrastructure monitoring (such as pipelines, railways, and power grids) to search and rescue missions, environmental surveillance, geospatial mapping, and additional uses.
Because the system operates independently of global satellite providers, it provides a sovereign-controlled alternative, which is particularly advantageous for national security, critical infrastructure protection, and adherence to domestic regulations.
Resilience in Electronic Warfare, Interference or Network Denial
Possibly the most notable asset of GEOCOSMOS is its resilience. Employing SDRs, extensive frequency bands, and a distributed redundant architecture, the system asserts its capability to resist jamming, intentional interference, weather disturbances, and even complete denial of satellite access.
Under such circumstances, conventional GNSS systems (such as GLONASS or GPS) may malfunction or exhibit reduced reliability. A ground-based network, particularly one built with domestic components and a secure design, provides a backup or even the primary system for navigation and communication—an essential asset in military or contested environments.
Furthermore, as the network relies on fiber-optic synchronization, it is less susceptible to signal interference compared to radio-only solutions. The network’s mesh and relay architecture introduces redundancy: in the event of a station failure, signals can be redirected through alternative stations.
Strategic Importance and Sovereignty
The deployment schedule of GEOCOSMOS aligns with a comprehensive strategic initiative: to strengthen technological sovereignty, reduce dependence on external or international infrastructure, and guarantee secure, domestically managed communication and navigation systems. ZALA itself describes GEOCOSMOS as a “ground-based Starlink,” but explicitly designed for aerial vehicles rather than providing broad internet access for consumer devices.
Given the escalating geopolitical tensions and the potential for satellite networks to be targeted or sanctioned, a terrestrial alternative could signify a fundamental shift in the paradigm. GEOCOSMOS provides a secure, nationwide infrastructure capable of supporting military, civil, industrial, and emergency operations—independent of international satellite providers or foreign equipment.
For civilian aviation and the expanding UAV sector, such a system could also facilitate the secure integration of drones and autonomous aircraft into shared airspace. With a robust ground-based navigation and communication infrastructure, air traffic control and unmanned aerial traffic management can become more organized and secure—even in remote or contested regions where satellite or cellular coverage is limited or unavailable.
Furthermore, by operating independently of satellite or mobile network providers, GEOCOSMOS can function as a nationwide infrastructure—serving as a strategic asset for Russia’s defense, transportation, logistics, and disaster response capabilities.
Broader Implications: For Russia and the International Community
GEOCOSMOS has the potential to signify a major change in the organization of geopolitically sensitive technologies. For a nation such as Russia—which frequently prioritizes technological sovereignty, the utilization of domestic components, and resilience against external pressures—a terrestrial navigation and communication infrastructure could establish strategic autonomy.
In situations involving large-scale conflict, cyber warfare, satellite denial, or disruptions to the global supply chain, a network such as GEOCOSMOS guarantees that communication and navigation systems remain under national authority and are minimally reliant on external sources.
For civil and commercial applications—urban drone delivery, disaster response, connectivity in remote areas, and environmental and geological monitoring—such a network could unlock new opportunities, particularly in regions where satellite or cellular coverage is limited or unreliable.
Furthermore, if the concept demonstrates success, it could serve as an inspiration for other nations—particularly those facing difficult geographical conditions or constrained space infrastructure—to explore comparable terrestrial solutions. A large-scale distributed ground-based mesh network could serve as a viable alternative or supplement to GNSS and satellite communication on a global scale.
Conclusion: A Ground-Based Transformation in Navigation and Communications
The launch of GEOCOSMOS by ZALA indicates a paradigm shift: that satellites—traditionally regarded as essential for global navigation and communication—may not necessarily be the sole or most effective option.
Through the development of a dense, fiber-connected network of ground stations, utilizing software-defined radios, and distributing communication and navigation functions across terrestrial nodes, GEOCOSMOS ensures enhanced reliability, sovereignty, resilience, and adaptability. Its design is tailored to the emerging era of drones, autonomous vehicles, contested electronic environments, and infrastructure, with a focus on national security.
If the intended 12,000-station network is successfully deployed, evaluated, and scaled, GEOCOSMOS may not only supplement existing satellite-based systems such as GLONASS but, in certain scenarios, could potentially replace them—particularly in contexts where security, control, and resilience are of the utmost importance.
In summary, GEOCOSMOS may signify the inception of a ground-based navigation and communications revolution—one in which the Earth itself serves as the foundation for the future of airspace, transportation, logistics, and security.
The realization of this vision is contingent upon effective execution, ongoing maintenance, standardization, and wider adoption. However, the ambition to establish a “ground-Starlink for airborne objects” is genuine, and the technological and strategic implications are significant.