Future Satellite Communications Data Link in SESAR 2020 and ESA Iris Programme

As the technological pillar of Europe’s ambitious Single European Sky (SES) initiative, SESAR is the initiative which coordinates and concentrates all EU research and development (R&D) activities in ATM (Air Traffic Management), pooling together a wealth of experts to develop the new generation of ATM.The latest ATM Master Plan produced by SESAR JU explicitly acknowledges the role of the SATCOM component in the development of the ATM Future Communication Infrastructure (FCI).ESA Iris and SESAR SATCOM Programmes support the European ATM Master Plan, and will enable a large range of economical, safety and environmental benefits.This paper aims at providing the description of the state of art for both the SESAR and the Iris Programme SATCOM activities, as well as the interactions between these two initiatives and their future roadmaps.