DeSIRE II demonstration project launches
The European Space Agency (ESA) and European Defence Agency (EDA) have launched the DeSIRE II demonstration project to develop services provided by Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) flying in non-segregated airspace. The launch was announced on 18 May, and the project will run for 18 months with budget of $2.97 million.
The prime contractor and system integrator of the project is an industrial consortium led by Telespazio.
The results and recommendations from this project will go towards supporting standardisation and regulatory activities in Europe, particularly for the definition of future satellite-based command and control data-links.
During this project, a Piaggio Aero P.1HH HammerHead UAS will be used as a test-bed for developing, integrating and testing capabilities designed for safe RPAS operation in civilian airspace, to support missions such as crisis management, maritime surveillance and environment monitoring.
The project will also characterise SATCOM command and control data-links in various frequency bands through simulation, emulation and flight demonstration campaigns.
The end users - Italian Coast Guard, Italian Civil Protection Department, Guardia di Finanza, European Fisheries Control Agency, Ceren and Armasuisse – will consolidate their regulatory and operational requirements to operate RPAS in non-segregated airspace.
The DeSIRE II demonstration project is a follow-on to the first DeSIRE demonstration project led by Indra from 2011 to 2013. This project ended with several successful test flights demonstrating the ability of a RPAS to safely fly with other airspace users using a satellite link.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![Cummings Aerospace showcases Hellhound loitering munition designed for US Army’s LASSO programme (video)]()
Cummings Aerospace showcases Hellhound loitering munition designed for US Army’s LASSO programme (video)
Cummings Aerospace presented its turbojet-powered Hellhound loitering munition at SOF Week 2025, offering a man-portable solution aligned with the US Army’s LASSO requirements.
-
![SOF Week 2025: PDW unveils attritable FPV drone for SOF operations at scale]()
SOF Week 2025: PDW unveils attritable FPV drone for SOF operations at scale
PDW has revealed its Attritable Multirotor First Person View drone at SOF Week 2025, offering special operations forces a low-cost, rapidly deployable platform for strike and ISR missions, inspired by battlefield lessons from Ukraine.
-
![SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions]()
SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions
Teledyne FLIR is highlighting the emerging requirements for 'recoverable and re-usable' loitering munitions across the contemporary operating environment during this week’s SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida.
-
![SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America]()
SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America
High-performance maritime industry player Kraken Technology Group, based in the UK, has used the SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida this week to debut its K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessel (USV) to the North American market.
-
![Palladyne AI and Red Cat to demonstrate capabilities for autonomous drone swarms to the US military]()
Palladyne AI and Red Cat to demonstrate capabilities for autonomous drone swarms to the US military
Red Cat and Palladyne AI recently conducted a cross-platform collaborative flight involving three diverse heterogeneous drones.
-
![Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures]()
Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has driven another stage of evolution for drones and the counter measures to defend against them.
