The Rozas Airport Research Center (CIAR) was created as a part of the Civil UAVs Initiative, a strategic program undertaken by the regional government of Galicia, also known as Xunta de Galicia, to foster civilian applications of UAV technologies. CIAR stands out as one of Europe's premier research and experimentation centers for unmanned systems. The center boasts ground infrastructure and resources needed to develop unmanned platforms, along with their associated systems and equipment.

In the wake of CIAR's unique technological infrastructure and its location - adjacent to the airport and an industrial park specializing in unmanned aerial vehicles - the need to secure the positioning and communication systems utilized by UAVs against possible cyber threats has become more pronounced. To this end, the new system will supervise positioning signals sent out by the satellites and the signals employed for communication links between control stations and UAVs.

Security challenges are bound to surge with the expanding use of unmanned aerial vehicles. The Civil UAVs Initiative in Galicia is actively partaking in addressing these emerging issues. The initiative concentrates on both public and private usages of UAVs, spanning various sectors including urgent healthcare response, sustainable management of forest and marine resources, wildfire prevention and suppression, biodiversity observation, and mobility enhancement. By nurturing the area surrounding Rozas as a hub of aerospace research, development, and innovation (R and D+i), the initiative is working towards positioning Galicia as a pioneer in global aerospace developments while generating high-quality employment opportunities.

Key elements for the project include satellite navigation and cybersecurity. Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) are fundamental for the operation of UAVs, enabling them to determine their precise location throughout their flight. With the advent of widespread GNSS services, UAVs can now leverage advanced functionalities like autonomous flight. The cybersecurity system, a joint development project of GMV and the Galician company Centum research and technology, aims to safeguard the CIAR and the GNSS signals used by UAVs against both intentional and unintentional jamming or spoofing.

Jamming, an attack on navigation systems, is carried out by deliberately deteriorating the quality of the signals received from a positioning system. Spoofing, on the other hand, replaces the real positioning signals, misleading the aircraft about its actual location. The project, helmed by GMV, will also deliver a cybersecurity solution to safeguard the frequency bands used for UAV communications, thus averting potential loss of control due to attacks on the communication link between an unmanned vehicle and the corresponding ground control station.

The cybersecurity system will comprise a network of ground stations and a sensor onboard the UAVs. The ground stations will persistently monitor the appropriate radiofrequency bands, whereas the UAV's onboard sensor will locate any interference sources emanating from areas not under the coverage of the ground stations.

Unmanned aerial vehicles are evolving into a fast-growing market, introducing novel public services. As per a report issued by the European Parliament, Europe has emerged as a leader in civilian applications of UAVs, with the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Sweden leading in UAV operation numbers. Forecasts suggest a promising future for the European drone market, projecting revenues of euro 10 billion by 2035 and euro 15 billion by 2050. Consequently, the regional government of Galicia recognizes the broad implications of investments in UAV technologies on public policies and services, in line with the European Union's policies for the 2021-2027 period aimed at fostering a more connected, socially inclusive Europe supporting high-quality employment. Other significant potential areas of contribution from the Galician aerospace industry include ecological and digital transformations, rural development policies, and demographic policies addressing rural depopulation.

Related Links
Rozas Airborne Research Center
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