Companies successfully complete Iris Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) flight trials to support trusted multi-link connectivity for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.
Viasat Inc. and partners Thales, Dimetor, TTP plc and the European Space Agency (ESA), have completed successful flight trials at Cranfield University using the National Flying Laboratory Centre’s Bulldog light aircraft, as part of the Iris RPAS programme.
The initiative is contributing to a coordinated effort to build real-world evidence around trusted, resilient connectivity for BVLOS uncrewed aircraft operations.
The trial forms part of the wider Iris airspace modernization programme, funded by ESA and industry partners, which is focused on enabling the safe integration of uncrewed aircraft into non‑segregated airspace through trusted communications. Iris brings together partners from across satellite communications, terrestrial networks, surveillance, airspace management, and secure aviation systems to understand how connectivity behaves under representative operational conditions.
The ongoing flight trials are explicitly evidence‑building in nature. They are designed to observe how different connectivity elements can work together within a multi‑link framework, reflecting the environmental and operational complexity expected as BVLOS activity scales.
How trusted multi-link connectivity is evolving for BVLOS operations
As BVLOS operations scale, it is increasingly recognized that extremely reliable command-and-control links are a critical prerequisite for meeting their high operational and safety requirements. ESA Iris RPAS trials explore how multi‑link connectivity models can support continuity, integrity, availability and trust, which are essential to maintaining safe command‑and‑control links and situational awareness in shared airspace.
Thales, as system integrator for Iris, is coordinating the trials to support a structured, safety‑led approach to connectivity evolution. Partners including Viasat, TTP plc, Dimetor and Cranfield University contribute complementary capabilities spanning satellite communications, satcom terminals (TTP) and flight planning support tools (Dimetor), terrestrial networks, and surveillance and airspace intelligence, helping to build a holistic view of trusted connectivity for future operations.
What the Iris RPAS trials show for future uncrewed aviation
“For BVLOS uncrewed operations, safety depends on having a command‑and‑control link that can be trusted wherever the aircraft is operating,” said Joel Klooster, SVP Aircraft Operations and Safety at Viasat. “Satellite communications play a critical role in providing that assurance, particularly beyond the reach of terrestrial networks. Through Iris RPAS, we are working with our partners to build evidence around how satcom can contribute to resilient, safety‑oriented multi‑link architectures that support the next phase of uncrewed aviation.”
These flight trials are one of several activities being delivered through the ESA Iris RPAS programme, each designed to examine connectivity behaviour across different operational scenarios and environments. Together, these trials are building a cumulative evidence base to support collaboration between industry, regulators and airspace stakeholders, helping to inform how trusted, multi‑link communications can safely enable the continued growth of BVLOS uncrewed aviation.
