The lightweight antenna was developed at Honeywell’s European R&D center in Brno, Czechia, under the European Space Agency’s Iris Global program. It was tested with Viasat’s satellite network under real flight conditions at Budkovice Airport.
“As regulators and operators prepare for scaled BVLOS operations, resilient command-and-control connectivity is foundational,” said Martin Mlaskac, Senior Technical Manager at Honeywell Aerospace. “Flight testing at Budkovice Airport confirmed that combining satellite and terrestrial communication links ensures operators maintain positive control of the aircraft even in demanding or complex scenarios.”
Honeywell integrated the antenna with its VersaWave satellite communications system. The configuration allowed command-and-control connectivity to switch between satellite and terrestrial networks during flight.
Operators changed flight trajectories when potential conflicts with other airspace users were detected. One scenario involved another drone crossing the planned flight path, requiring a route adjustment to maintain safe separation.
Several missions were conducted within Europe’s U-space framework for unmanned aircraft. Frequentis supplied its Uncrewed Traffic Management suite for operator registration, flight authorizations, geo-awareness and secure data exchange.
A Honeywell Ground Control Station used a ground-based Detect-and-Avoid system to process telemetry from the drone and a crewed aircraft acting as an intruder. The system identified potential conflicts, alerted the operator and recommended route changes.
“The successful demonstration underlines the importance of strong industry collaboration,” said Bernhard Kirschner, Solution Architect for Integrated Lower Airspace at Frequentis. “Together with our partners, we’re building the digital infrastructure required for safe and efficient unmanned aviation.”
After an operator approved a revised flight plan, the route was uploaded and executed automatically. Honeywell said the tests demonstrated how resilient communications and automated U-space services can support BVLOS operations in shared airspace.
“UTM integration and resilient network capabilities are core pillars of BVLOS, not just nice add-ons,” said Joel Klooster, SVP Aircraft Operations and Safety at Viasat. “Our ongoing collaboration in the ESA Iris program shows how advanced multilink networks can enable real-time interaction, airspace awareness, and continuity of control in live operating conditions.”
Honeywell is evaluating Czech suppliers for inclusion in the antenna’s manufacturing supply chain as it prepares for industrial production. Czech industrial partners supported prototype production, while Brno University of Technology conducted radio-frequency validation.
The technology is intended for BVLOS applications including infrastructure inspection, logistics and emergency response. The project is co-funded by the European Space Agency, with additional support from the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Industry and Trade.
