Thales and Sopra Steria forge a multiyear partnership
To transform ATM in Europe
Thales, a global leader in high technology, and Sopra Steria, a key player in the European tech sector, have signed a multiyear partnership to revolutionise the digital transformation of Air Traffic Management (ATM) in Europe.
The collaboration will leverage their combined industrial and digital ATM solutions expertise to offer Thales’ OpenSky Platform. This secure and safe digital platform and accompanying services will be pivotal in modernising European ATMs and fostering sustainable aviation.
Sopra Steria’s dedicated aerospace division, Aeroline, will be instrumental in supporting Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) in overcoming digital transformation challenges. This partnership aligns with the new version of the European ATM Master Plan, designed to drive ATM’s digital evolution across the continent.
With air traffic growth continually rising, ATM systems must evolve to meet the demand for more efficient, sustainable, and compliant services. This transformation must also address the latest safety and cybersecurity standards.
Thales and Sopra Steria’s strategic alliance aims to meet these demands by adopting open architectures and interfaces that will grant ANSPs access to the most advanced components, systems, and applications, ensuring long-term flexibility and innovation.
By focusing on open architectures, ATM systems can integrate third-party technologies more efficiently, driving cost efficiencies while maintaining seamless system interoperability. The Thales OpenSky Platform, a fully open and cyber-secure solution, will empower ANSPs to adopt the digital transformation without compromising the safety and security of air traffic management systems.
The partnership will support Europe’s next phase of air traffic management, addressing current and future challenges while aligning with strategic transformation objectives.
“This partnership aligns perfectly with Thales’ ambition to lead the digital transformation of ATM in Europe. To achieve this, a key focus must be on the resilience and cybersecurity of our platforms. Through this strategic collaboration, we are reinforcing our expertise in cybersecurity and enhancing our end-to-end digital transformation capabilities in the ATM sector,” said Christian Rivierre, Vice President of Airspace Mobility Solutions at Thales.
Xavier Pecquet, member of Sopra Steria’s Executive Board and Director of Aeroline, added: “This partnership with Thales enables us to offer our customers innovative, high-performance, and secure solutions for air traffic management, underpinned by our well-established expertise and assets across Europe.”
Image: The partnership will support Europe’s next phase of air traffic management, addressing current and future challenges while aligning with strategic transformation objectives. Credit: Ralf Maassen
