The SESAR Joint Undertaking (SESAR JU) and the European Space Agency (ESA) through its Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity Directorate have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC), reinforcing their long-standing partnership to accelerate the integration of space-enabled technologies into the future Digital European Sky.

Building on past successful cooperation between the SESAR JU and ESA, the memorandum establishes a structured cooperation framework to identify, develop, validate and promote space-enabled capabilities that will support the next generation of air traffic management (ATM), in line with the European ATM Master Plan. By bringing together European expertise in aviation and space, the two organisations will work towards alignment between future space-based services and aviation’s business needs, while meeting the highest standards for safety, security, interoperability and certification. The cooperation between the SESAR JU and ESA will complement their respective activities with the European Commission in this field. It will also support the transition from research to deployment, helping to bring innovative space technologies into operational use and strengthening the competitiveness and technological autonomy of Europe's aviation sector.

Under the memorandum, the SESAR JU and ESA will cooperate in several areas, including:

• strengthening the integration of satellite, aircraft and ground infrastructure, and in particular, the development of communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) services such as multilink communications, satellite communications, L-band-digital aeronautical communication system (LDACS) complementary services, hybrid communications and secure air-ground data exchange;
• advancing secure air-ground connectivity and alternative positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) capabilities;
  supporting the safe integration of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) and other new airspace users;
• assessing how European space programmes and infrastructure, including IRIS², Galileo and EGNOS, can strengthen ATM resilience, operational continuity, climate-informed trajectory optimisation and Europe's strategic autonomy.
   

“The future Digital European Sky will rely on the seamless integration between air and space technologies. By strengthening our cooperation with ESA, we are laying the foundations for a more resilient, secure and sustainable air traffic management system, while reinforcing Europe's technological leadership and competitiveness,” said Andreas Boschen, Executive Director, SESAR Joint Undertaking.

“Europe’s space and aviation sectors are becoming increasingly interconnected, and this cooperation with the SESAR JU reflects the importance of working across both to deliver tangible benefits for our Member States. Combining Europe’s leading space capabilities with the expertise of the aviation community will provide practical solutions for the Digital European Sky to support a safer, more connected, more resilient and efficient future for European airspace,” said Laurent Jaffart, Director of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity, European Space Agency.

About the SESAR Joint Undertaking

The SESAR Joint Undertaking brings together the EU, Eurocontrol, and more than 50 organisations covering the entire aviation value chain, from airports, airspace users, air navigation service providers, drone operators and service providers, the manufacturing industry and the scientific community. The partnership also works closely with the regulatory and standardisation bodies, notably EASA and EUROCAE, as well as key stakeholders such as professional staff organisations, the space and military communities and global partners. www.sesarju.eu 

About ESA’s Space Systems for Safety & Security (4S) programme 

The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe's gateway to space, coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its Member States to conduct space programmes and activities. Part of Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES), the Space Systems for Safety & Security (4S) strategic programme line develops innovative secure satellite communication systems, integrating them with terrestrial networks where relevant. These systems aim to enhance the safety, resilience, and security of our critical infrastructures and applications, including transportation across land, air, and sea. Additionally, they support governmental operations such as border control and law enforcement. The 4S initiative aims to support European and national institutions and public bodies in building satellite communications tailored to their needs, while also maintaining Europe’s position at the forefront of the global secure communications market. By fostering growth in this domain, the initiative contributes to creating a safer and more resilient society in Europe and beyond. 

Learn more: https://resilience.esa.int/artes-4-0-programme-overview/safety-security 

For further information, please contact:

Triona Keaveney, Senior Communications and Media Relations Officer, SESAR Joint Undertaking
Email: triona.keaveney@sesarju.eu /press@sesarju.eu 

For ESA media inquiries, please contact:
Email: media@esa.int