Thales and Avinor have partnered to implement Norway’s next-generation nationwide Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) system, enhancing airspace management for both unmanned and manned aircraft while ensuring full compliance with European regulatory standards.
Thales' Topsky - UAS, powered by AstraUTM, will provide a scalable, automated platform for real-time traffic management, compliance monitoring, and safe integration of unmanned aircraft, paving the way for efficient air mobility operations across Norway.
The new UTM system supports Norway’s vision for unmanned aviation, enabling safe, scalable drone operations and laying the groundwork for future Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) solutions alongside traditional aviation.
This strategic partnership with Avinor, the Norwegian air navigation service provider and airport operator, will enable the deployment of Norway’s next-generation nationwide Unmanned Traffic Management system. This collaboration represents a major step forward in Norway’s airspace management, combining innovation with strict regulatory compliance. It also signifies a key milestone for Thales in the integration of AstraUTM, a recently acquired leader in cutting-edge UTM software development.
With its newly released product Topsky - UAS powered by AstraUTM, Thales will provide a safe and scalable digital platform for automated UTM and future AAM (Advanced Airspace Mobility). This system will efficiently manage air traffic in the vicinity of airports and metropolitan, suburban, and regional areas, offering capabilities such as compliance monitoring, authorization management, real-time decision-making, continuous airspace surveillance, automated conflict resolution, and rapid response to dynamic conditions.
Christian Rivierre, Vice-President Airspace Mobility Solutions, Thales: "We are honored to collaborate with Avinor to bring this nationwide UTM system to life in Norway, prioritizing safety, innovation, and, naturally, regulatory alignment. Together with Avinor, we embrace the development of BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) services in non-segregated airspaces, enabling technologies that make it simple and economical to perform safe, repeatable and scalable commercial UAS operations. Our UTM solutions, recently enhanced with AstraUTM, a Thales company, reflect Thales’ commitment to advancing airspace management and setting the foundation for safe and integrated air mobility."
Mats Bye Gjertsen, Vice-President Avinor Drone Program: "At Avinor, we are proud to be an active contributor in developing uncrewed aviation in Norway. Partnering with Thales on this next-generation UTM system reflects our dedication to advancing uncrewed operations in Norwegian airspace. This system will support Avinor’s role in ensuring the safe and efficient integration of drones, providing oversight, and managing airspace responsibly. We are excited to work with Thales as a strategic partner to deliver a solution that benefits all airspace users and supports air traffic services in managing drone operations."