The Xunta (region) de Galicia in Spain and the SESAR Joint Undertaking (SESAR JU) have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to strengthen collaboration in research and innovation for air traffic management (ATM). The agreement aims to explore how regional capabilities can contribute to shaping the Digital European Sky, accelerating the development of safer, smarter and more sustainable aviation.
The cooperation coincides with the launch of Galicia’s Strategic Security, Defence and Aerospace Initiative 2025–2030, which sets out the region’s ambition to strengthen its aerospace sector and foster innovation across dual-use technologies. While this document is quite general in nature, focusing on policy, funding and other support, Galicia’s intentions in uncrewed traffic are evident in its presentation. It features far more images of uncrewed aerial systems than manned aircraft, and even uses a pictogram of a drone to represent the aerospace sector.
The aerospace sector in Galicia today consists of nearly 140 entities that jointly develop large investment programmes in technology-intensive segments such as uncrewed systems and space. The region has also been part of SESAR JU projects, including the U-ELCOME project and the AMU-LED initiative for which Galicia conducted multiple operations such as testing the safe integration of uncrewed aerial systems into controlled airspace.
Within the new framework announced yesterday (October 13), the SESAR JU and Galicia will work together to explore opportunities to coordinate research and innovation activities that support the modernisation of European air traffic management.
The cooperation will also look at how Galicia can serve as a regional testbed for innovative air traffic solutions, using its established industrial and research base. SESAR notes that the region brings recognised expertise in aeronautical communications (including satellite systems), integration of uncrewed aerial systems into controlled airspace with detect-and-avoid capabilities, flight simulation and ATM interoperability, and airport facilities suited to demonstrations and regulatory sandboxes.
For more information
Image: Andreas Boschen, Executive Director of SESAR JU and María Jesús Lorenzana Somoza, Regional Minister of Economy and Industry of Xunta de Galicia. (SESAR JU photo)
