HECKLINGEN, Germany - The German Aerospace Center (DLR) announced it is working with skyzr, a subsidiary of Frequentis in Vienna, to support the future operation of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) in European airspace in a secure and coordinated manner and to develop advanced procedures for their safe integration.
The collaboration aims to create an interoperable, practical environment in which UAS operating procedures can be tested and refined under realistic conditions, consistent with European Union regulations for "U-space" airspace, which are specific geographic areas where drone operations are managed through automated, networked services. U-space is a digital, service-based framework that enables large-scale drone operations under EU law, serving as the foundation for Europe’s approach to uncrewed aviation and future integrated airspace management.
"As part of our ongoing collaboration with Frequentis, DLR is providing essential U-space services such as network identification, geo-awareness, UAS flight authorization and traffic information in accordance with relevant EU regulations," said Dagi Geister, head of the Department of Unmanned Aircraft Systems at the DLR Institute of Flight Guidance. "Additional digital systems support these services by automatically monitoring and managing air traffic."
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Uncrewed integration
The number of UAS operating in European airspace is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. To support safe integration alongside crewed aircraft, the EU has established a standardized framework known as U-space. U-space airspaces are defined geographic areas in which UAS operations are permitted through the use of digital and automated services designed to manage high traffic volumes safely and efficiently.
Mandatory U-space services, including network identification, geo-awareness, UAS flight authorization, and traffic information, form the foundation of the work being conducted by DLR researchers at the Braunschweig site.
Over time, the U-space infrastructure is expected to be opened to external partners for on-site testing. "This is a major step toward establishing U-space in Germany and safely testing the integration of uncrewed systems into airspace alongside crewed aircraft," Geister said.
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The modular architecture of the U-space allows for the addition of optional services that can be evaluated through research projects. This includes concepts such as multiple U-space service providers, integration of vertiports for air taxis and cargo drones, and coordination with crewed aircraft operations. According to DLR, operations remain independent of external networks and services.
Colaboration
The effort builds on long-standing cooperation between DLR and Frequentis in the field of flight guidance and air traffic management, enabling the implementation and further development of certified services under operational conditions.
"By rolling out U-space services in Cochstedt, we are, together with DLR, creating a safe and practical environment for testing drone technologies under real-world conditions," said Günter Graf, vice president for new business development at Frequentis. "Our objective is to provide solutions that make UAS operations efficient, reliable, and suitable for future applications in industry and research."
Initial U-space operations are planned within the Cochstedt aerodrome traffic zone, where DLR’s test center provides infrastructure for research, testing, and demonstration of uncrewed aircraft technologies.
