U-space is becoming a reality: SESAR JU showcases demonstrator achievements across Europe

U-space is becoming a reality, thanks to the achievements of SESAR JU's Digital Sky Demonstrator projects. Over a two-day event in Brussels attended by over 250 participants, U-ELCOME , BURDI, and ÉALÚ-AER-co-funded by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Transport) programme-showcased their results. The event provided a forum to discuss the next steps for implementing U-space services as the demonstrators draw to a close.

U-space has been a focus of SESAR JU's research and innovation since 2015, following the EU Aviation Strategy and the Warsaw Declaration on drones. The adoption of the EU Drone Strategy 2.0 in 2022 set out a bold vision for the future of unmanned aviation in Europe, while the first U-space regulations, which entered into force in 2023[1], provided the regulatory and operational framework to safely introduce drones into European airspace.

The three SESAR U-space Digital Sky Demonstrators which are now coming to a close, are helping to translate this framework into real-world services in Belgium, Ireland, Italy and Spain, showing how drones can operate safely and efficiently at scale alongside manned aviation.

Setting the scene, Benoit Fonck, SESAR JUChief Programme Officer, highlighted Europe's rapid progress on U-space, noting that in less than a decade it has moved from a strategic objective to concrete implementation, backed by EASA regulation. He added that "first services are now being deployed, enabling safe and efficient drone operations in real environments."

Keynotes

Andreas Boschen, Executive Director of SESAR JU, highlighted the real-world added value of the Digital Sky Demonstrators, noting that "these projects are helping us take concrete steps towards ensuring safety, sustainability and competitiveness, while bringing innovation that delivers benefits for citizens and businesses alike."

In his intervention, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Member of the European Parliament, stressed that the "civil drone revolution is already a reality" and that Europe must maintain its momentum in a "global race for technological leadership". He pointed to SESAR's role in accelerating innovation through collaboration and highlighted the importance of continued EU investment under the next Multi-annual Financial Framework to keep Europe's skies safe, sustainable and competitive.

Christine Berg, Head of Unit for Aviation Safety at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport said that Europe is at a "critical point in scaling up drone operations". With technology and service providers ready, the next challenge is simplifying the framework where possible while maintaining safety. She referred to the EU Drone Strategy 2.0 providing a clear pathway for transforming Europe's regulatory framework into a thriving drone services market.

Lucie Žáčková, Head of Unit at European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), underlined the importance of investing in drone research and innovation to unlock the sector's vast potential across industries such as logistics, emergency medical services, environmental protection and urban mobility. She stressed that "by investing in these areas, we are effectively enabling a new wave of job opportunities and driving growth, supporting Europe's technological leadership on the global stage."

Tânia Cardoso Simões, Aviation Transformation Director at EUROCONTROL, which led U-ELCOME, said that the work undertaken provides a solid foundation for the next phase of drone integration in Europe. She added that "we must now focus on expanding U-space deployment across more Member States and ensuring interoperability and consistency in service provision," while also building public trust through engagement with local communities.

Digital Sky Demonstrator projects

U-ELCOME successfully implemented initial U-space in France, Italy and Spain, validating its deployment through more than 1,000 drone flights, operating in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace. The project deployed multiple U-space Service Providers (USSPs) in a single location, showcasing how providers can operate together and interoperate seamlessly. The consortium also developed a U-space Implementation Handbook, a practical guide for current and future implementers.

BURDI developed the first cross-border U-space reference design between Belgium and the Netherlands - a pioneering step for European interoperability. Executed demonstration flights, especially BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone operations in the Port of Antwerp / Antwerp Harbour geozone, integrating drone operations into complex and real-world environments. BVLOS drone flights between hospital sites in the Kempen region, reduced transport times from ~30 minutes by traditional ground vehicles to under 13 minutes with drone transportation.

ÉALÚ-AER established Ireland's first Digital Sky Demonstrator in Shannon, integrating drones with traditional air traffic control. The project tested advanced U-space technologies and BVLOS operations, while also conducting national public consultations to assess societal acceptance of drones in daily life. The demonstrator also supported Ireland's first all-electric aircraft flight, integrating it into the project's focus on future air mobility.

All three demonstrators provided practical insights, recommendations, and lessons learned to guide future U-space deployment and standardisation, inform best practices, support integration with existing air navigation services, and foster safe, efficient, and socially accepted operations across Europe.

Exhibition and engagement

A dedicated exhibition area allowed participants to experience the technological achievements of the demonstrators. Attendees explored live and pre-recorded demonstrations of U-space systems and had the opportunity to speak with SESAR JU experts about the programme and ongoing innovations. The exhibition also showcased additional projects, including EUREKA, ENSURE, OPERA, SPATIO, and SAFIR READY, further highlighting the breadth of SESAR JU's research and development work. Participants were particularly interested in understanding how these innovations could be applied operationally and how stakeholders could contribute to future U-space initiatives.

Next steps for U-space

The event underscored the value of operational experience, public engagement, and cross-border collaboration in enabling U-space implementation. Lessons from Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and The Netherlands and will inform the next steps for SESAR JU, as the partnership continues to support research, testing, and deployment of safe, efficient, and sustainable U-space operations across Europe.

More about U-space: https://www.sesarju.eu/U-space