Tern Systems to Lead €21 Million European ATM Innovation Project “NOMAD”

Tern Systems will lead NOMAD (Next-Gen Service Oriented Modular ATM Development for Enroute & TMA), a new European air traffic management innovation project receiving €21 million in funding from the SESAR Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon Europe program.

The project brings together 17 partners from across Europe and will officially begin this fall, positioning Tern Systems at the forefront of the next generation of digital air traffic management in Europe.

NOMAD is designed to help transform how air traffic is managed in European airspace by creating a more connected, automated, flexible, and resilient air traffic management system. The project supports the vision of the Digital European Sky and the latest European ATM Master Plan, which aim to modernize Europe’s air traffic infrastructure to handle growing demand while maintaining safety, improving efficiency, and reducing environmental impact.

At the heart of the project is the development of a new generation of air traffic management platform built around cloud technology, automation, cybersecurity, and real-time data sharing. The goal is to enable air navigation service providers to adapt capacity dynamically to traffic demand while reducing delays, emissions, and operational complexity.

NOMAD consists of three major focus areas:

• Developing highly automated and “silent” air traffic control operations, where much of the communication between controllers and pilots becomes digital rather than voice-based.
• Creating dynamic airspace and capacity management systems that can respond in real time to changing traffic patterns, weather, and operational conditions.
• Building a secure, cloud-based, multi-vendor air traffic management platform that allows systems and services from different providers to work seamlessly together.

The project will also explore advanced uses of artificial intelligence and human-machine collaboration to support air traffic controllers, improve operational predictability, and increase airspace capacity while maintaining high safety standards.

As project coordinator and solution lead, Tern Systems will play a central role in guiding both the operational and technical direction of NOMAD. The company will lead work related to future automation, service-oriented ATM architecture, and cybersecurity for next-generation air traffic systems.

The consortium includes air navigation service providers, ATM technology companies, research institutions, and industry specialists from across Europe, all working together to accelerate innovation and interoperability in European aviation.

“This project represents an important milestone for Tern Systems and for the future of European air traffic management,” says Magnús Már Þórðarson, CEO of Tern Systems. “NOMAD gives us the opportunity to work together with leading European partners to help shape a more efficient, sustainable, and resilient aviation ecosystem for the future.”

The project aims to reach Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL6), meaning the technologies developed within NOMAD will be validated in operationally relevant environments and prepared for future deployment across Europe. It is also expected to contribute directly to reducing aviation emissions, improving operational efficiency, strengthening cybersecurity resilience, and enabling a more scalable European ATM network capable of supporting future air traffic growth.

For Tern Systems, the project further strengthens the company’s position as a leading innovator in advanced air traffic management technologies and reinforces Iceland’s growing role in the development of the future European aviation ecosystem.

Project partners: Tern Systems (Coordinator), Avians, SkySoft-ATM, Skyguide, HungaroControl, SKAI LABS, IDIAP, AVTECH, BME, SpeechTex, MetSafe, SITA, Airtel, Slot Consulting, ProofIT, Navya Solutions.