Project concept and objectiveThe project CRUISE, started in January 2019, will face the European need for higher cyber security of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS).Project partners will design, develop and validate a CyberSec Test Range to provide RPAS cyber-vulnerabilityand resiliency assessment services to a wide EU community of research and industrial users. The CyberSec Test Range, based in the airport Marcello Arlotta of Grottaglie (Taranto, Italy), has a technological architecture composed of an ICT infrastructure integrated with Earth Observation (EO), Navigation (SATNAV) and Communication (SATCOM) satellite platforms. Cyber attacks to Remote Pilot Station as well as to the aerial platforms launched during VLOS, RLOS and BRLOS operations exploiting communication (TELCOM, SATCOM) services and navigation (SATNAV) signals will be object of the assessment. Vulnerability tests will be realized by simulating cyber attacks — software in-the-loop — (in an aerial operation simulation environment), by emulating flight operations — hardware in-the-loop — (integrating simulation environment and drones) and by realizing real flight tests in the segregated airspace. Cybersecurity assessment will regard also payload data communication.

Satellite command and control datalink (BRLOS operations) will be realized by connecting the airport of Grottaglie with the Fucino Space Center. Lastly, the integration of the CyberSec Test Range with the ESEC (European space Security and Education Centre of ESA, Redu, Belgium) will be prepared.

PROJECT context

CRUISE project is the first tangible step of the collaboration agreement among DTA, Italian Space Agency –ASI, European Space Agency—ESA and Belgian Federal Science Policy Office – BELSPO. It was signed during 2018 Global Space Economy Workshop – Space Cybersecurity for Mobility and aims at developing collaborative actions in the technology field of space cybersecurity for transport exploiting ESEC and Grottaglie Airport Test Bed infrastructure.

Target markets

Thanks to this integrated infrastructure the CyberSec Test Range will offer vulnerability assessment services to all classes of RPAS (from mini/micro to HALE RPAS).

Primary market: UAS & Payload manufacturers, aerial service providers

Secondary target: CyberSecurity industry, local entity, law enforcement—aviation regulators included-, civil protection, other aerial services users.