Austria’s Frequentis Leads €25.9M European Air Traffic Control Project

Vienna-based Frequentis is leading a €25.9 million European research project to develop next-generation air traffic control systems, bringing together 14 aviation and technology partners to advance secure data sharing, automation, and interoperability across European airspace.

The project, known as NATICA (Next-Generation ATS Platform for Innovative, Climate-Conscious, and Secure Air Traffic Management), is supported by the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking under the EU's Horizon Europe program. According to official project data, its total cost is approximately €25.91 million, including nearly €19 million in EU funding. The initiative began in September 2026 and is scheduled to run until August 2029.

Cloud-Based Architecture and AI-Assisted Air Traffic Control

NATICA aims to develop an air traffic services platform capable of operating across national and organizational boundaries. Unlike conventional systems that rely heavily on infrastructure located within individual control centers, the proposed architecture will separate service delivery from local infrastructure using cloud-native technologies and standardized interfaces.

The project will focus on three areas: developing a service-oriented air traffic control platform, enabling real-time coordination and flight trajectory sharing between control centers, and introducing artificial intelligence tools to assist air traffic controllers.

The AI capabilities are intended to support human decision-making rather than replace controllers. The platform will also address en-route and terminal-area operations, with the objective of improving traffic coordination, operational resilience, and the efficient use of European airspace.

Frequentis Coordinates International Industry Consortium

The 14-member consortium includes major aviation technology companies, air navigation service providers, and research organizations. Participants include Honeywell, GE Aerospace, Leidos, Deutsche Lufthansa, DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung, NATS, NAV CANADA, Skyguide, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR), Latvijas Gaisa Satiksme, NSL, and Austria's BRIMATECH.

The partners intend to validate the platform's core technologies in operationally relevant environments, targeting Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL6), a stage at which technology is demonstrated in a relevant environment rather than deployed as a fully operational system.

Michael Holzbauer, Director European Affairs ATM at Frequentis, described the initiative as a step toward a more open and resilient European air traffic management ecosystem, emphasizing interoperability, secure data exchange, and automation that supports controllers.

NATICA is among 49 projects launched under the second wave of the Digital European Sky research and innovation program. Related projects led by Thales, Indra, Leonardo, and Tern Systems are also developing modular, service-oriented air traffic management technologies, with interoperability between platforms forming part of the wider European modernization effort.

Author: Daniel Opoku