EASA awards historic first U-space service provider certificate to ANRA Technologies

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has awarded its first U-space service provider (USSP) certificate, marking a major milestone in the rollout of a harmonised drone airspace system across Europe. The certificate was officially presented to ANRA Technologies during the Airspace World trade show in Lisbon.

U-space refers to a designated airspace where drone operations are managed through a suite of advanced, digitalised services designed to ensure safety, security, and efficiency. The certification of ANRA Technologies is the first of its kind under the framework set by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/664 and paves the way for scalable drone operations in European skies.

“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 EASA. “It sets the benchmark for others and moves us closer to a safe, secure, and interoperable European U-space ecosystem.”

A rigorous path to certification

To obtain certification, ANRA Technologies underwent an extensive evaluation process lasting nearly two years. This included detailed assessments of safety, cybersecurity, operational readiness, business continuity, and regulatory compliance. The company is now authorised to provide the four mandatory U-space services in designated airspaces across Europe: network identification, geo-awareness, flight authorisation, and traffic information.

ANRA’s CEO and founder, Amit Ganjoo, described the certification as a landmark moment: “We have invested significantly in maturing our European operations, and this process has made us not just a stronger technology company, but a stronger aviation organisation.”

Beyond technology: a comprehensive approach to safety and resilience

The certification represents more than a technological milestone. It confirms ANRA’s readiness in areas such as cyber resilience, incident and risk management, data protection, and oversight procedures. EASA emphasises that the certification process has established a repeatable model that can serve as a blueprint for future USSPs across Member States. 

Supporting EU drone strategy goals

This development also supports broader EU ambitions under the Drone Strategy 2.0, which aims to enable complex, long-distance, and urban UAS operations while ensuring safe integration with manned aviation. The U-space system is key to unlocking safe beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations and managing dense drone traffic in urban environments. Background: U-space and the USSP certification framework

U-space airspace is a UAS-specific geographical zone designated by Member States, where drone operations are only permitted with the support of certified U-space services. These services rely on automation and digitalisation to safely coordinate large volumes of drone flights. 

The four mandatory U-space services required for certification include:

• Network identification
• Geo-awareness
• Flight authorisation
• Traffic information

The introduction of U-space is intended to ensure fair use of airspace, enable advanced drone operations, and maintain safe separation between manned and unmanned aircraft. ANRA’s certification is expected to catalyse broader adoption of U-space frameworks throughout Europe.