Cranfield University and Thales to work together

Cranfield University and Thales have announced plans to workclosely in partnership to unlock the potential of new aviation technologies.

The Government’s recent Aerospace Sector Deal highlightedthe potential for the U.K. in developing future aviation technology, with aprevious study by PwC revealing that drone technology has the potential toincrease UK GDP by 2 percent by 2030.

The agreement, signed at the Royal International Air Tattoo(RIAT) at U.K. RAF Fairford, will see the two organisations explore closercollaboration in areas such as unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and unmannedtraffic management (UTM), aerial and ground autonomous systems, airspace datacommunications and digital aviation security.

Victor Chavez, Chief Executive of Thales U.K., said:  “Together, we will develop pioneeringtechnologies and innovate to drive sustainable aviation, including entirely newair transport systems and enhanced passenger experience. Our agreement withCranfield University today opens the door to the next era of digital aviation.”

The two organisations are already working closely together,as partners in the £67 million Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre(DARTeC) and the National Beyond visual line of sight Experimentation Corridor(NBEC).