Industrial Research & Validation for Civil-military Interoperability & Coordination

Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes.

• Environment. Greater predictability resulting from the integration of military flight data into the network will lead to more efficient use of available airspace capacity by civil traffic, which will lead to greater fuel efficiency.
• Capacity. Greater predictability resulting from the integration of military flight data into the network will lead to more efficient use of available airspace capacity by civil traffic, which will lead to fewer delays.
• Operational efficiency. Greater mission predictability will be of benefit to the operational efficiency of civil traffic in the European network.
• Security. The confidentiality, integrity and availability of information and data are crucial in ensuring safe and secure military operations. The development of a secure virtual infrastructure will address the issue of fragmentation, while digital technologies are viable options for enhancing the resilience of infrastructure to cyberattacks.
• Civil–military coordination. The transmission of shareable data relating to mission trajectories to the NM will ensure the optimal and timely integration of military flight data into the network, thus allowing solid and reliable traffic predictions.

To achieve the expected outcomes, all or some of the following should be addressed.

• Access to airspace. This element will involve further develop the seamless access to airspace to both civil and military users (R&I need: access to airspace and SWIM). It includes, for example, the following features: 
  • Advanced dynamic mobile areas. This will support dynamic configuration of segregated airspace and management of mission trajectories, thus contributing to the efficiency of both civil and military operations. The areas will have the potential to ‘roll up’ following use over time, distance and volume as a mission progresses, allowing the early release of airspace for other users. The concept of dynamic mobile areas reduces the need for static airspace reservation, as it protects the aircraft along its trajectory, not linked to any geographical location.
  • Mission trajectory management. The research will result in automated support for civil–military CDM processes supported by common procedures and data formats and the underlying information exchange services.
  • Interoperability with U-space. This will require the development of specifications and procedures enabling U-space permeability to mission trajectory and mixed-mode operations, together with the required civil–military interoperability concerning certified UASs.
• Data-sharing. This refers to the availability of data (e.g. aeronautical, meteorological, environmental and flight data) in a digital format to improve air picture development (R&I need: military surveillance capabilities).
• Military surveillance capabilities. This refers to the availability of data (e.g. aeronautical, meteorological, environmental and flight data) in a digital format to improve military surveillance capabilities (R&I need: military surveillance capabilities).
• Connectivity and access to CNS infrastructure. This refers to the development of a service-driven approach to the CNS infrastructure that accommodates both civil and military needs (R&I need: connectivity and access to CNS infrastructure). It includes, for example, the following features. 
  • Joint utilisation of the CNS infrastructure. This refers to the development of technologies enabling joint civil and military utilisation of the CNS infrastructure and improvements to how CNS services are delivered, including cross-domain services (e.g. contingencies).
  • Avionics interoperability. This will require solutions allowing CNS avionics (e.g. using software-defined radios) to operate seamlessly and to be interoperable with civilian CNS requirements.
• Cybersecurity. This refers to the development of cybersecurity and data protection solutions, which should be considered holistically as part of an end-to-end information management process. This includes personnel education, training and capacity building, and changes to technical infrastructure in the context of increased cooperation and information-sharing among civil and military authorities. It also includes addressing potential combined attack scenarios involving signal in space attack vectors (R&I need: cybersecurity).