Cranfield University (www.cranfield.ac.uk) and Thales have announced plans to work in partnership to unlock the potential of new aviation technologies.

They will explore closer collaboration in areas such as unmanned aerial systems and unmanned traffic management, aerial and ground autonomous systems, airspace data communications and digital aviation security.

Victor Chavez, chief executive of Thales UK (www.thalesgroup.com), said: “We are in the midst of a digital transformation in the aviation sector, and Thales is at the leading edge of this change, with Cranfield University as a critical academic partner.

"Together, we will develop pioneering technologies and innovate to drive sustainable aviation, including entirely new air transport systems and enhanced passenger experience.

"Our agreement with Cranfield University opens the door to the next era of digital aviation.”

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

DARTeC will address challenges including: the integration of drones into civilian airspace; increasing the efficiency of airports through technological advances; creating safe shared airspace through secure data communication infrastructures; and increasing the reliability and availability of aircraft through self-sensing, self-aware technologies.

NBEC aims to create ‘an experimentation corridor’ that will enable drones and unmanned aircraft to fly in the same airspace.