Thales, Spire and ESSP to introduce space-based ATC service in 2027
Thales, Spire and European Satellite Services Provider (ESSP) are to collaborate on the development of global satellite-based surveillance services to the air traffic management industry and broader aviation market, powered…
June 14, 2024
Thales, Spire and European Satellite Services Provider (ESSP) are to collaborate on the development of global satellite-based surveillance services to the air traffic management industry and broader aviation market, powered by a specialised constellation of over 100 satellites. The system will be certified, commercialised and operational by the end of 2027.
“The birth of a satellite constellation fully dedicated to serving the demanding needs of air traffic management, air domain awareness and national security is a groundbreaking development for the aviation industry,” said Philip Plantholt, general manager of aviation at Spire, which will be responsible for developing the space segment of the project.
Meanwhile, Thales will provision the ground ATC management system and the service supervision infrastructure, something vice president of Airspace Mobility Solutions Christian Rivierra describes as “laying the foundation for a safer, more environmentally-friendly, and cost-efficient ATM [air traffic management] system”.
ESSP will manage the certification and delivery of the service and perform round-the clock operation and supervision. Combining the best of space systems, ATC systems and ATC service provision, “our service is developed driven by users’ needs and expectations to face new service-levels, the challenge of ATC digitilization and to support greener and more sustainable air travel,” said Charlotte Neyret, chief executive officer of ESSP.
Although the system will be powered by ADS-B data broadcast from aircraft, the companies also intend to design and demonstrate a second-generation system that doesn’t rely on ADS-B data; providing a “resilient solution for tracking aircraft that cannot be impacted by vulnerabilities with GNSS/GPS such as interference or outages”.
