The Satellite Applications Catapult’s Drone Test and Development Centre (DTDC) has been officially recognised by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as a national test and evaluation site for uncrewed and autonomous air systems in the UK.
As a CAA pre-assessed test site, this marks a major step forward in accelerating the safe development, validation and adoption of next-generation drone technologies underpinned by satellite communication and navigation systems. It provides a streamlined approval process for operators and manufacturers, significantly reducing the time required to gain permissions to fly and validate systems. This enables faster progression from innovation to market, ensuring the UK remains a global leader in safe and sustainable drone integration.
In combination with the Catapult’s recently announced collaboration with WholeShip Limited, this announcement strengthens the UK’s national test and evaluation network for autonomous systems, building on critical infrastructure and unlocking potential new test sites, and further accelerating growth and deployment opportunities for drone companies and UAV solutions across the country.
Richard Lowe, Chief Technical Officer at Satellite Applications Catapult, said:
“Drones depend on satellites services. Satellite navigation, communications and mapping all play a role in delivering new UAV capabilities. With this recognition as a CAA pre-assessed test site, we are helping innovative businesses to get to market faster. Our Drone Test and Development Centre bridges the gap between research and real-world operations, creating an environment where safe, scalable drone technologies can be developed and tested, supported by our space technology experts.”
Sophie O’Sullivan, Director, Future Safety and Innovation at the UK Civil Aviation Authority said:
“As the aerospace regulator, we are continuously working to enable the UK drone industry to develop and grow.
“Uncrewed Aircraft Systems test sites like DTDC provide the industry the opportunity to test and develop in the UK, ensuring that there is a streamlined process to progress the future of flight, whilst maintaining high safety standards.”
Set within 203 acres of controlled ground risk areas at Westcott Venture Park, the DTDC facility’s secure environment allows for scalable testing of complex autonomous systems in real-world environments. As well as supporting flight trials and multi-vehicle autonomous missions, the Catapult also offers world-class expertise, particularly on the integration of advanced communication and navigation systems into uncrewed platforms. With CAA accreditation, this makes the DTDC a leading centre for supporting the growth of the UK drone industry.
Satellite Applications Catapult and WholeShip Ltd have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on strengthening the UK’s test and evaluation network for autonomous...