All aircraft in controlled airspace are in radio contact with the air traffic controller of the air traffic control (ATC) sector in which they are currently located. This also includes remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), like the European medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) RPAS, called Eurodrone. Rohde & Schwarz R&S AR5000 software defined radios (SDR) of the SOVERON family enable Eurodrone to fly in airspace also used by other aircraft. The technology company is the only provider of SDRs that meet both the civil aviation certification requirements of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and military standards of NATO and other national administration. Only military aircraft certified in respective civil and military standards can be operated without restrictions in the airspace.
“The R&S AR5000 airborne transceiver meets all relevant requirements and ensures safe operation of an RPAS in international air space,” Stefan Pleyer, Vice President Market Segment Avionics, Rohde & Schwarz, explains.
Using the onboard VHF/UHF radio, a RPAS pilot in a ground control station communicates directly with air traffic controllers just as a pilot would in a manned aircraft. The aircraft is then safely guided in the take off and landing phases and guided securely through civil air space. Eurodrone is the first unmanned aerial system designed for flight in non-segregated airspace. It has the aim to ensure (European) strategic sovereignty by the participating states, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, under the management of the international agency OCCAR and participating industry partners Airbus (as prime contractor), Dassault Aviation and Leonardo.
Rohde & Schwarz showcases its air communications portfolio at Paris Air Show in Le Bourget from June 19 to 25, 2023, in Hall 2C, German Pavilion, booth C318. This includes fully integrated, high performance and scalable trusted solutions for air-air, air-ground, and ground-ground communications, i.e. software defined airborne radios and ATC communications. Rohde & Schwarz is a leading supplier of solutions in the fields of test and measurement, broadcast and media, aerospace | defense | security and networks and cybersecurity. The technology group’s innovative communications, information and security products help industry and government customers ensure a safer and connected world. On June 30, 2022, Rohde & Schwarz had about 13,000 employees worldwide. The independent group achieved a net revenue of EUR 2.53 billion in the 2021/2022 fiscal year (July to June). The company is headquartered in Munich, Germany, and has subsidiaries in more than 70 countries, with regional hubs in Asia and America.
