The Future of Surveillance
The current surveillance infrastructure is mainly composed of mono-pulse (secondary surveillance radar (SSR), SSR Mode-S and primary surveillance radars (PSRs). Recently, however, technological developments such as automatic dependent surveillance –broadcast (ADS-B) and wide-area multilateration (WAM) have reached maturity and are being deployed across Europe.
In parallel, new performance targets and associated operational requirements are emerging from Single European Sky and SESAR initiatives. These factors will drive changes to the existing surveillance infrastructure. This evolution needs to be managed, for it will also be influenced by an extensive range of other factors such as global interoperability, civil-military coordination, the introduction of functional airspace blocks (FABs), and changes to the composition of the aircraft fleet with the introduction of very light jets and unmanned aircraft. Furthermore, cost and radio frequency spectrum efficiency considerations will lead to a rationalisation of the current infrastructure, in which legacy systems will be phased out as soon as practicable and new, more efficient technologies will be introduced.
Surveillance systems are a key enabler of the SESAR future operational concept. They are expected to be “leaner” and more efficient in the future – combining a layer of ADS-B with a layer of surveillance (provided either by SSR, SSR Mode S or WAM). Primary radar coverage will also be available, where required, possibly in the form of multistatic PSR (MSPSR). In addition to ground-based surveillance, ADS-B will also enable the development of new airborne surveillance operational services including air traffic situational awareness (ATSAW), spacing, separation and self-separation.
To achieve these changes, the avionics carried on board an aircraft must become a fully integrated element of the surveillance infrastructure. The scope of surveillance systems will extend to embrace an increasingly diverse range of avionic components – such as GPS systems, traffic computers and cockpit display systems, as well as the transponders.
The activities conducted in recent years have established a solid foundation which allows the European surveillance infrastructure to meet future needs and upon which SESAR can build. These foundations are being actively reinforced through programmes, such as CASCADE (ADS-B and WAM) and ACID (Aircraft Identification Programme), and also through the development of legislative instruments such as the Implementing Rules published by the European Commission.
The following graphics illustrate how the Surveillance infrastructure is foreseen to evolve: