Nova Systems and WholeShip team to support National Drone Hub
Nova Systems has signed a Teaming Agreement with WholeShip to provide Ship Aircraft Integration and Digital Test and Evaluation support at the National Drone Hub.
Above: (left to right) Nova Systems International Managing Director Gareth Dyer and WholeShip CEO Dan Stembridge.
Courtesy Nova Systems
Announced at the DroneX Trade Show and Conference at the Excel Centre in London, the partnership will deliver a mix of live and digital flight test activities focused on accelerating the development of Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) technologies, as part of the National Drone Hub.
The National Drone Hub is a Test & Evaluation (T&E) facility for drones that is operated by Wholeship in partnership with the Royal Navy, with access to over 5,500km² of segregated airspace. It provides a a practical environment for Visual and Beyond Visual Line Of Site (BVLOS) testing of drones and Ship-Air Integration.
The National Drone Hub brings together Industry, Government, Regulators and Academia to accelerate the development of drones and their associated technologies. The partnering agreement between Nova Systems and Wholeship delivers unrivalled
and independent T&E capabilities that will help drive economic growth and foster collaboration.
Gareth Dyer, Nova Systems International Managing Director, said the combined Nova Systems and WholeShip digital engineering toolsets would rapidly accelerate the development of UAS / Ship safe operating envelopes, a game-changer for the UAS
Ship Air Integration T&E process: “Our teaming with WholeShip to deliver on the vision for the National Drone Hub takes our respective capabilities to the next level.
“The site offers a unique and safe proving ground for uncrewed platforms which is an expanding area of innovation and development in the defence, security and civil sectors.
“Together we will build upon our existing digital T&E toolsets with the ability to rapidly test and assure systems in the real and virtual domains simultaneously. The result is faster test iteration and capability realisation, without the bureaucracy of using legacy
range infrastructure. This is a real step forward for the industry.”
Dan Stembridge, CEO of WholeShip, said: “The National Drone Hub’s success is rooted in its strong partnerships with both industry giants and innovative SMEs. “These partnerships have not only enhanced the capabilities of the National Drone Hub, but have also created a vibrant ecosystem where innovation thrives.” John Ling, General Manager of Aerospace and Test at Nova Systems International, added: “Nova Systems is proud to work alongside WholeShip in the development of innovative Digital Test and Evaluation capabilities, where complex simulation and modelling techniques allows Nova and WholeShip to provide the National Drone Hub with a cutting-edge Ship-Air Integration capability.”
Nova Systems provides bespoke special mission aircraft solutions. They design, certify and deploy innovative, high quality mission system integration and modification solutions.
WholeShip Ltd operate the National Drone Hub at Predannack in Cornwall. The National Drone Hub offers an independent facility for the testing and evaluation of drones. With 5,500 square kilometres of segregated airspace, 320 hectares of airfield space which features four runways and multiple operating surfaces, located 600 metres from the sea extending from the surface up to 55,000 feet, the National Drone Hub provides an expansive and secure environment for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight tests and versatility for a wide range of drone activities.
Additional key assets include Ship Air Digital Integration Equipment (SADIE), which supports the certification of drones for ship-air integration, enabling them to operate seamlessly from vessels underway.