Astrium and EADS Defence & Security selected by the European Defence Agency (EDA) to study integration of UAVs into civil air
Astrium and EADS Defence & Security selected by the European Defence Agency (EDA) to study integration of UAVs into civil airspace.
Since 2003, we provide satellite Internet in Iraq and Afghanistan globally enabling Iraqi and Afghan citizens, businesses and remotely deployed personnel to have broadband Internet access, enterprise connectivity, VoIP and videoconferencing services at affordable costs.
The European Defence Agency (EDA) has selected an Astrium and EADS Defence & Security (DS) consortium to lead a six-month study to demonstrate that by using satellite communications it is feasible to integrate UAVs into civil airspace. DS has more than 30 years of expertise in UAVs, and Astrium, Europe’s largest space company, will determine how and what satellite-based services are needed to operate the UAVs safely in civil airspace.
Today UAVs are only operating in segregated airspace for military operations. Integrating UAVs safely into civil airspace would enable them to be used to assist in a variety of civil and para-civil applications. These include maritime patrol, border surveillance, agricultural monitoring, weather/atmospheric data collection, and high-altitude geological and infrastructure mapping.
As part of the six-month feasibility study, the consortium will meet key European civil and military stakeholders. The purpose of these meetings will be to receive their endorsements on safety and regulatory policy, and on future applications. On completion of the study, EDA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are expected to jointly fund a demonstration programme.
In preparation of this demonstration, DS will investigate the possibility to fly a MALE UAV that will be controlled via a satellite communication link provided by Astrium Services. The two companies already collaborate in Afghanistan, where a Harfang UAV, developed by EADS Defence and Security, is being operated by the French air force.
The consortium comprises 11 members including Astrium, DS, QinetiQ, ISDEFE as well as IABG and combines the industrial capabilities of the leading specialists in UAVs, space-based telecommunications and air traffic management in France, the UK, Spain and Germany.