EDA, ESA sign contract for feasibility studies on satellite services for UAS missions

At the venue of EDA’s Annual Conference 2010 on “Bridging Efforts – Connecting Civilian Security and Military Capability Development”, the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) signed contracts with two consortia regarding feasibility studies on “Satellite Services for the integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into European Airspace”. EDA's Chief Executive, Mr. Alexander Weis, signed one contract with EADS Astrium Services / EADS Defence & Security - Military Air Systems (France) and in parallel ESA’s Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications, Ms Magali Vaissiere, signed a second contract with INDRA Espacio (Spain). The two studies, worth € 400 k each, will explore the feasibility of a demonstration mission in the timeframe 2010/2011. Close coordination between the two Agencies ensures that both European civilian and defence actors will benefit from the use of multiple integrated space systems as enablers for cost-effective, sustainable and competitive UAS services in the future. The feasibility and the overall planning for a UAS mission, demonstrating that UAS can be integrated into non-segregated airspace using satellite communications and satellite navigation for Command and Control, Sense and Avoid, and Air Traffic Control, and the added value of satellite communications for high data rate payload links. The viability of such a solution for future services based on UAS supported by space systems. The investments necessary in the future and the next steps required in technical and regulatory terms to effectively establish such a service. The roadmap for civilian, security and military services development. Building on their respective work in the areas of UAS Air Traffic Insertion and Satellite-UAS cooperative missions, EDA and ESA have joined forces since the start of 2009 to demonstrate that technological challenges in Command and Control / Air Traffic Control can be overcome through the use of satellite services.