DeSIRE II demonstration project launches
The European Space Agency (ESA) and European Defence Agency (EDA) have launched the DeSIRE II demonstration project to develop services provided by Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) flying in non-segregated airspace. The launch was announced on 18 May, and the project will run for 18 months with budget of $2.97 million.
The prime contractor and system integrator of the project is an industrial consortium led by Telespazio.
The results and recommendations from this project will go towards supporting standardisation and regulatory activities in Europe, particularly for the definition of future satellite-based command and control data-links.
During this project, a Piaggio Aero P.1HH HammerHead UAS will be used as a test-bed for developing, integrating and testing capabilities designed for safe RPAS operation in civilian airspace, to support missions such as crisis management, maritime surveillance and environment monitoring.
The project will also characterise SATCOM command and control data-links in various frequency bands through simulation, emulation and flight demonstration campaigns.
The end users - Italian Coast Guard, Italian Civil Protection Department, Guardia di Finanza, European Fisheries Control Agency, Ceren and Armasuisse – will consolidate their regulatory and operational requirements to operate RPAS in non-segregated airspace.
The DeSIRE II demonstration project is a follow-on to the first DeSIRE demonstration project led by Indra from 2011 to 2013. This project ended with several successful test flights demonstrating the ability of a RPAS to safely fly with other airspace users using a satellite link.
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