(From left to right) Amnon Ginati, Head of ESA’s Integrated Applications Programme, and Carlo Magrassi, EDA's Deputy Chief Executive - Strategy
Close to 100 participants representing European industry and institutional stakeholders across the civilian, security and defence domain attended the two-day European Space Agency / European Defence Agency workshop on Unmanned Aerial systems (UAS) and Satellite Services, held in ESA's ESTEC facility in Noordwijk, The Netherlands, on the 27 and 28 of May.
Taking into account various stakeholder requirements, the workshop has demonstrated that the emerging area of UAS could definitely benefit from the use of multiple integrated space systems as enablers for cost-effective, sustainable and competitive UAS services.
Focusing on UAS applications and satellite communications, as presented by Dr. Barnard from Barnard Microsystems Ltd, additional presentations were given related to the required C2/ATC over satellite capability by the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Defence Agency (EDA) as well as representatives of the space industry including Thales, Indra and Alenia Aeronautica on behalf of Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD).
Participants were able to gain valuable insights regarding:
- the outcome of ESA-initiated studies in the area of Satellite-UAS cooperative missions;
- the outcome of the EDA-initiated Air4All initiative, and associated activities supporting the Air4All roadmap such as the EDA-led SIGAT study on spectrum issues;
- state-of-the art satellite communications in support of UAS;
- the benefits of satellite infrastructure to operators of UAS requiring BLOS (Beyond Line of Sight) operations, safety and air traffic authorities with respect to safety, security, performance and cost;
- the upcoming launch of coordinated feasibility studies by ESA and EDA in the area of UAS C2/ATC with a view to a demonstration mission in 2010/2011.
EDA’s Armaments Director, Jukka Juusti, highlighted the cooperative spirit between the two organisations, stressing that by coordinating forces, technological challenges can be overcome and best value for money for the European taxpayer achieved.
(From left to right) Amnon Ginati, Head of ESA’s Integrated Applications Programme, Martin Stoussavljewitsch, Principal Armaments Officer, and Carlo Magrassi, EDA's Deputy Chief Executive - Strategy
The strong interest triggered by this workshop and positive feedback received during the sessions are an encouragement for ESA and EDA to further exploit synergies and deliver concrete solutions for European end-users”, says Amnon Ginati, Head of ESA’s Integrated Applications Programme.
The AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) expressed its appreciation of the ESA/EDA initiative, stressing that industry recognises the importance of the communication link as a key-enabler to assure a full UAS exploitation with significant benefits for a wide range of applications in the civilian, security and defence domain.
The Directorate of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications of ESA supports a number of activities related to the use of satellite systems for UAS missions. EDA has initiated the Air4All activity after being tasked by the Defence Ministers Steering Board in May 2007. Air4All is a consortium of major European aerospace companies involved in UAS activities that are working for the EDA and its participating Member States to put together a road map for the insertion of UAS in the European Airspace.