EUROCONTROL publishes strategic plan for the modernisation of communication, navigation and surveillance in Europe

Developed under the guidance of the CNS Advisory Group – a group of technical experts established by the European Commission - the Plan seeks to address the challenges impacting the harmonised and synchronised deployment of CNS facilities and equipment. The Plan is a deliverable of the CNS Programme Manager – a role EUROCONTROL has assumed after appointment by the European Commission in 2024. This role involves managing the implementation of the European CNS Evolution Plan in full partnership with all relevant stakeholders, ensuring a coordinated approach to strategic planning.

Europe’s current CNS infrastructure is robust, but occasional outages can degrade services. The evolution of CNS, including new systems and optimisation of legacy systems, is essential for achieving ATM modernisation goals such as optimising operational efficiency and increasing sustainability while maintaining highest levels of safety and security.  The CNS Evolution Plan aligns with the ATM Master Plan’s vision for an efficient and environmentally friendly European sky by 2045.

The publication of the first version of the CNS Evolution Plan establishes the methodology and foundation for future updates, ensuring that CNS systems evolve efficiently to meet both European and global airspace management objectives. Additionally, the Plan includes an initial definition of the European CNS Minimum Operational Network (MON) referring to conventional civil CNS infrastructure that are needed to maintain services in case outages affecting satellite navigation signals occur.

Looking ahead, the full edition of the CNS Evolution Plan is expected for 2026. It will be designed to respond to the evolving needs of the aviation industry, tackling key challenges to enhance the safety and efficiency of airspace management.