Unifly Joins European ENSURE Project to Bridge Drone and Aircraft Airspace Systems

Terra Drone subsidiary Unifly has joined a major European research initiative to integrate drone traffic systems with traditional air traffic management, according to an announcement from Terra Drone Corporation. The ENSURE project, led by the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking, aims to develop standardized interfaces allowing unmanned aircraft and conventional aviation to safely share airspace.

Strategic Integration of U-space and ATM Systems

The rapid commercial expansion of drone operations across Europe has created an urgent need for sophisticated airspace management solutions. The ENSURE project represents a significant step toward establishing a unified framework where drones and manned aircraft can coexist without compromising safety or operational efficiency.

ENSURE builds upon previous SESAR initiatives including CORUS-XUAM and EUREKA, but takes a more comprehensive approach by developing standardized interfaces between U-space and Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems. A central innovation is the implementation of dynamic airspace reconfiguration (DAR) — technology that enables real-time airspace adjustments based on operational demands.

Consortium of Aviation Leaders

The project brings together an impressive consortium of European aviation stakeholders under the leadership of INDRA, a Spanish aviation technology provider. Other participants include aerospace giant Airbus, pan-European air navigation organization EUROCONTROL, Italian air navigation service provider ENAV, and UTM Specialist Unifly, as detailed in the Terra Drone announcement.

As a recognized leader in Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) solutions, Unifly will contribute expertise to several critical aspects of the project:

• Development of U-Space services enabling real-time coordination between drone operations and traditional air traffic
• Technical support for standardizing interfaces between U-space and ATM systems
• Participation in validation exercises testing the dynamic airspace reconfiguration systems
• Deployment support for digital airspace management tools

Validation Timeline and Industry Engagement

The ENSURE project has established an ambitious timeline, with integration demonstrations scheduled throughout 2025. These demonstrations will focus particularly on high-density airspace scenarios where the benefits of dynamic reconfiguration would be most significant.

To promote transparency and industry collaboration, ENSURE will host an Open Day on May 28, 2025, at Tern Systems in Iceland. During this event, Unifly plans to showcase its advanced UTM solutions and present on U-Space digitalization and automation.

Regulatory and Safety Considerations

A core component of ENSURE involves addressing the evolving regulatory landscape for integrated airspace operations. The project aligns with the European Union’s U-space regulatory framework, which establishes requirements for drone operations in controlled airspace.

Safety remains paramount, with ENSURE implementing comprehensive risk assessment methodologies and developing contingency protocols for various operational scenarios. The integration must maintain or exceed current safety standards while accommodating rapidly increasing drone traffic.

Market Implications

For the broader Drone Industry, ENSURE represents a critical stepping stone toward routine beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations and advanced drone delivery services. The standardization of U-space and ATM interfaces will likely accelerate commercial drone adoption across multiple sectors.

Terra Drone Corporation, which acquired a majority stake in Unifly in July 2023, continues to expand its UTM portfolio, having also invested in U.S.-based Aloft Technologies in February 2024. The Japanese company recently listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market (Stock Code: 278A) in November 2024 and has been recognized as a top industrial drone service provider globally for five consecutive years.

DroneXL’s Take

The ENSURE project highlights the industry’s shift from segregated to integrated airspace management philosophy. While significant technical and regulatory hurdles remain, the collaboration between traditional aviation stakeholders and Drone Technology specialists signals a maturing approach to airspace modernization. The success of initiatives like ENSURE will be crucial in establishing the digital infrastructure necessary for the next generation of aviation operations.