Aerospace Standardized System for Military Air Traffic Control and Surveillance

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Military air traffic control plays an important role not only in Germany. However, it is a highly complex field where various data are integrated. Airbus Defence and Space has developed a standardized and scalable system for military air traffic control and surveillance, relying on RTI Connext Professional.

Military air traffic control in NATO countries like Germany is a highly complex field and crucial for security, yet it is characterized by continuously increasing technical demands. To create a unified picture of the airspace across civilian and military systems, different data from networks such as Link 16 (STANAG 5516) or high-frequency radar systems must be integrated in real-time. Current industry regulations and safety standards must always be taken into account, and in the future, potentially also dynamic safety requirements similar to the EUROCAE ED 153 standard in civilian air traffic control.

Airbus Defence and Space took on this challenge and developed a standardized and scalable system for military air traffic control and surveillance with RTI Connext Professional. The control and reporting center enables real-time connectivity, allowing targets to be detected, tracked, and identified in real-time. It also meets the requirements of various NATO countries, with a central focus on multi-level security architectures, zero-trust cybersecurity architectures, microservices architectures, and the integration of cloud technologies. The data-centric architecture and multicast capabilities of RTI Connext provide the high system flexibility and scalability necessary for the real-time performance of Fortion 1SkyControl.

Professional Communication Infrastructure

In developing secure and scalable surveillance systems for military air traffic control, Airbus Defence and Space relies on RTI Connext Professional, a software framework based on the DDS standard. The data-centric structure simplifies development and improves modularity and interoperability for real-time applications. Data from various sources is available in real-time and forwarded to respective applications as needed. Airbus Defence and Space already uses Connext Professional as the communication infrastructure for the "Fortion 1SkyControl" program, which launched in 2023 and supports airspace surveillance with a high degree of automation. Thanks to native support for UDP multicast, data can be simultaneously distributed to numerous workstations. This allows, among other things:

• Multisensor tracking for plot and jam-strobe data from up to 100 live and simulated radar sensors simultaneously with high tracking accuracy
• Automatic track correlation for over 25 different types of sources and processing
• Automatic correlation of over 6,000 flight plans
• Automatic identification according to NATO air command regulations

The products of Connext are safety-certified to DO-178C/ED-12C DAL A. This enables systems to seamlessly switch to various security options and implement new developments of the DDS Security standard, which was designed for zero-trust and multi-level security architectures. The new versions can also be operated in microservices architectures, such as Kubernetes, and easily integrated into cloud infrastructures.

Fortion 1SkyControl for Airspace Surveillance

Fortion 1SkyControl is the result of years of development in airspace surveillance and has now been deployed by the German Air Force. Thanks to its real-time capabilities, the system can monitor airspace with high speed and precision, identify flight units, and initiate countermeasures. Through its DDS-compliant functions, devices and systems can communicate regardless of transport protocols and network types. For non-DDS-enabled devices or data silos, Fortion 1SkyControl ensures the exchange of critical data between components. With its data-centric design, Connext Professional connects modern applications with older legacy software, even without a direct DDS connection. The new interfaces shorten processing times, enhance performance, and reduce development effort. The data model can be flexibly defined using the interface definition language, simplifying the system architecture and enabling adaptation to future requirements. Tools like the RTI Administration Console contribute to faster development of airspace surveillance functions for Fortion 1SkyControl. The Fortion product line supports air forces in conducting highly coordinated multi-domain operations, particularly in air combat management. The system can also be adapted to the requirements of other NATO countries and serves as a solution for reliable military air traffic control and airspace surveillance.

Airbus Defence and Space

In addition to aircraft manufacturing, Airbus has a Defence and Space division that offers a comprehensive C5ISR portfolio (Command, Control, Communications, Computer, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) and related services. It provides a comprehensive situational picture across multiple domains. The task of this division is to support decision-makers at strategic, operational, and tactical levels in land, sea, and air environments.

Airbus Defence and Space has been involved in the integration and maintenance of military air traffic control and weapon systems for the German Air Force for 20 years. Its products include Fortion 1SkyControl, a proven software suite for air combat management. (se)