Airbus Defence and Space has launched AirSense, an advanced analytics solution enabled by multi-source surveillance data, based on global Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data. AirSense is based on various aircraft position data feeds.

The agreement forms a strategic partnership between Airbus and Aireon, a provider of global, space-based ADS-B data. This partnership will AirSense to accurately track any aircraft in real-time and identify flight-related events around the globe, in response to upcoming International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements.

The Aireon system is hosted on the Iridium NEXT satellite constellation, which will consist of 66 low-earth orbit cross-linked satellites. A total of 81 Iridium NEXT satellites are being built, all of which will have the Aireon payload onboard.  Currently, 75 satellites are planned to be deployed with nine serving as on-orbit spares and the remaining six as ground spares.

Aireon announced the successful launch of a sixth batch of ADS-B payloads in May, bringing the total number of Aireon payloads in orbit to 55. Deployment is planned for completion after two more launches in 2018. Operational trials over the North Atlantic are due to start in early 2019.