The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has issued its first U-space service provider certificate to ANRA Technologies, enabling the company to provide unmanned drone traffic management services in designated European airspace.
U-space is a geographical zone designated for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations, otherwise known as drones, that rely on digital services and automated functions to support safe, efficient, and secure access for large numbers of drones. The U-space service provider (USSP) plays a central role in managing these services.
“ANRA’s achievement of becoming the first certified U-space service provider demonstrates what is possible through rigorous compliance and technical maturity,” said Florian Guillermet, executive director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). “It sets the benchmark for others and moves us closer to a safe, secure, and interoperable European U-space ecosystem.”
The certificate was presented to ANRA at the Airspace World trade show in Lisbon, Portugal this week. The certification allows ANRA to provide four mandatory U-space services defined in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/664: network identification service, geo-awareness service, flight authorization service, and traffic information service.
ANRA underwent an evaluation process conducted by EASA over almost two years. The assessment covered safety, cybersecurity, operational readiness, business continuity, U-space service provision, and compliance frameworks. Beyond software capabilities, the certification examined safety support assessments, cyber resilience, incident management, data protection, information security assurance, software assurance, and service oversight.
“This certification is a landmark milestone for our company and the European drone ecosystem,” said Amit Ganjoo, founder and CEO of ANRA Technologies. “We have invested significantly in maturing our European operations, which has made us not just a stronger technology company, but a stronger aviation organization.”
The certification establishes a repeatable model that provides a clear regulatory pathway for other U-space service providers, fostering consistency, safety, and interoperability across EU Member States. ANRA’s approval serves as a blueprint for future applicants seeking USSP certification.
U-space services are designed to enable dense and safe UAS operations, support complex and long-distance operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), enable operations in urban environments, and ensure safe separation between manned aircraft and drones. The implementation contributes to achieving the objectives outlined in the European Union Drone Strategy 2.0.
The U-space airspace zones are designated by individual Member States, where UAS operations are only permitted with the support of U-space services. This framework allows for fair and efficient sharing of airspace while maintaining safety standards for both manned and unmanned aircraft operations.
The certification of ANRA as the first USSP is expected to accelerate the deployment of harmonized U-space airspace across Europe, providing a foundation for the safe integration of increasing numbers of drones into European airspace.
