During the first year of the ATM-EXCITE project, EURO-FUNDING has successfully overseen project coordination and management, ensuring smooth operations and timely deliverables.
The work involved conducting stakeholder engagement activities such as surveys and consultations with various civil and military aviation entities, including ANSPs, airport operators, regulators, and manufacturers. We have also defined key performance areas (KPAs) for the validation of these solutions, paving the way for the technical design and development work.
We have also focused on the design and feasibility of the five core solutions (ADVERMA, SEALD, ANYSKY, DACSEC ADS-B, and SIMCOM). During this phase, feasibility studies for the solutions were conducted, with ANYSKY and SIMCOM successfully achieving TRL 1. ADVERMA and SEALD are nearing completion of their feasibility assessments. The technical design of SIMCOM was also advanced, leveraging the BlueSky platform for multi-agent simulations. The validation results of these exercises provided the foundation for moving to the next phase of technical refinement and integration, where the solutions will undergo more extensive testing and validation against real-world scenarios. Work on DACSEC ADS-B is continuing with a focus on integrating the zero-trust security architecture into the overall system, ensuring it meets the security and confidentiality requirements necessary for both civil and military aviation.
Preliminary works have been carried out to define impact areas based on requirements and solution design, aligning the solutions with stakeholder goals and assessing their real-world impact on ATM efficiency. This involved close collaboration with partners and the creation of a KPI framework to measure the effectiveness of ADVERMA and SEALD solutions. All partners contributed by analyzing the potential impact of their solutions, using the results to design targeted survey questions for stakeholder feedback. These surveys help compare conceptual assumptions with stakeholder expectations and guide the refinement of solution approaches. The work will be finalized by M23 and inform further development and design activities.
To maximize ATM-EXCITE's visibility and impact through a comprehensive Communication, Dissemination, and Exploitation (CDE) Plan, we have defined key messages, target audiences, and communication channels, including the project website and social media, to ensure broad dissemination and stakeholder engagement. The website serves as a central hub for project updates and public deliverables, while LinkedIn is the primary platform for communication, showing strong growth in followers and engagement. Media relations and strategic stakeholder engagement activities, including surveys and workshops, ensure continuous feedback integration into project development.
Stakeholder engagement is ongoing, with active participation from all partners in conferences and consultations. These efforts focus on gathering feedback from ANSPs, regulatory bodies, and other key actors to ensure the solutions meet operational and regulatory needs. The project is committed to open science, with all peer-reviewed publications made available through open-access channels, while also aligning its activities with SESAR 3 JU guidelines and Horizon Europe regulations.
These tasks have collectively ensured that the ATM-EXCITE project is on track to meet its goals, with a strong foundation laid for the development, validation, and eventual deployment of its innovative solutions for civil–military interoperability and cybersecurity in ATM systems.
