Through the collective voices of the test centres, we aim to paint a vivid picture of the current landscape and chart a course for collective progress.
The work was performed in the context of the European UAS Test Centres Alliance, which was initiated in March 2023 as a result of the Network of U-space Stakeholders' activities.
This Network had identified the need for test centres to exchange ideas and experiences, fostering stronger collaboration and joint projects between test centres and other stakeholders. These activities facilitate Flagship Action 14 in the European Drone Strategy 2.0 regarding "an EU network on civil-defence drone testing centres to facilitate exchanges between civilian and defence sectors".
The European UAS Test Centres Alliance, initiated by DLR, comprises 35 organisations from 17 European countries. The Alliance's mission is to create a platform that fosters communication and exchanges within the community of European unmanned aircraft system (UAS) test sites to support the development of the European UAS ecosystem and leverage synergies between the different test sites, countries and regions for civil and defence purposes. This is done in a cooperative and inclusive manner through dedicated action items that serve the industry, research and regulatory stakeholders.
A comprehensive analysis of the survey results is provided in this report, covering a broad spectrum of topics ranging from regulatory challenges and technological requirements to operational constraints and collaboration opportunities.
