Unifly Highlights UTM System Cyber Certification Progress
Unifly, a leader in UAS traffic management (UTM) solutions, announced the progress and preliminary results of the NAVISP EL3-23: “SecureUTM” project at the Belgian National Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Workshop on June 19. Hosted by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO) and the European Space Agency (ESA), this workshop brought together industry leaders and technical experts to discuss advances in PNT solutions. The SecureUTM project, funded by ESA’s Navigation Innovation and Support Program (NAVISP), is focused on developing a cyber authentication scheme for UTM systems.
Cybersecurity for UTM
The growing importance of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), especially in beyond-line-of-sight (BVLOS) missions, creates serious cybersecurity challenges due to their high level of automation. The SecureUTM project addresses these challenges by proposing a cyber certification scheme for the EU’s UTM systems, aiming to ensure compliance with regulatory and cybersecurity standards. The project is divided into two phases: the technical phase (Phase 1) and the product phase (Phase 2).
With Phase 1 nearing completion, Unifly and Nexova presented preliminary results at the PNT workshop. These outcomes included stakeholder feedback, regulatory analysis, establishment of a cyber certification framework, and gap analysis. Additionally, a security proof of concept (PoC) was developed for Belgian airspace, implementing identified mitigation measures to harden Unifly’s UTM system to meet stringent security standards. Validation exercises are currently underway comparing secure and non-secure versions with mitigations across various attack scenarios. These results are being compiled into a verification report, and discussions have begun to define the outlines of Phase 2.
These preliminary results represent significant progress in developing a safe and certified UTM system. Future efforts will focus on further research and development within the NAVISP program, including implementation of a pilot program for safe Belgian UTM through rigorous validation testing.
“This initiative underlines our commitment to pioneering solutions that enable the seamless integration of drones while ensuring the highest level of safety and security,” said Andres Van Swalm, CEO of Unifly.
Unifly is dedicated to improving the safety and efficiency of autonomous aviation through advanced technologies. The Unifly platform acts as a bridge within the UAS ecosystem, enabling the safe integration of next-generation aircraft into the airspace. Unifly addresses the expected exponential growth in air traffic by digitizing and automating traffic management and integrating it with drones and Urban Air Mobility (UAM). The company has successfully implemented more than 10 commercial UTM deployments, establishing itself as an industry leader.
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