Post-Quantum Secure Communication and Surveillance for Air Traffic Management

PostQat develops post-quantum blueprints for secure ATM communication, surveillance, and trusted platforms.

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Quantum-safe communication Designing protection for current and future ATM links.
Open blueprints Reference architectures and protocol designs.
Trusted platforms Identity, attestation and platform integrity.
European transition Roadmaps and guidance for a quantum-safe sky.

Air-air

Securing aircraft-to-aircraft communication and surveillance links in high-density airspace.

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Air-ground

Protecting aircraft communications, surveillance and data services with ground infrastructure.

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Ground-ground

Enabling trusted data exchange across ATM systems, operations centres and backbone services.

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About PostQat

PostQat brings aviation, cybersecurity and post-quantum cryptography research into a practical transition path for the Digital European Sky.

About the consortium

Assess the migration challenge

Map where quantum-vulnerable cryptography appears across ATM communication, surveillance and data exchange.

Design deployable blueprints

Define protocol and PKI architectures that fit aviation constraints, assurance needs and operational timelines.

Support European transition

Provide guidance for operators, ANSPs and technology partners planning quantum-resistant ATM systems.

Research scope

PostQat covers the communication and data exchanges that keep the Digital European Sky connected and safe.

Explore technologies
ADS-B
TCAS
CPDLC
LDACS
SWIM
Air-air
Air-ground
Ground-ground

Technology outputs

The project delivers actionable blueprints for a post-quantum secure ATM ecosystem.

Open publications

Roadmap

The project runs from 1 September 2026 to 28 February 2029. Its work packages overlap across four activity areas.

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Phase 1

Foundations

2026-2027

Assess vulnerabilities, prioritize use cases and define PQC and PKI requirements.

Phase 2

Blueprints

2027-2028

Design the PKI, communication, authenticated platform and transition blueprints.

Phase 3

Evaluation

2027-2028

Evaluate designs and limited software prototypes in isolated simulation environments.

Phase 4

Results

2028-2029

Complete external validation, public results and the European transition roadmap.

Consortium

PostQat brings together a European university, research organisations and an aviation SME.

TU Delft University
ONERA Research institute
navaid OÜ Aviation SME
Fraunhofer AISEC Cybersecurity research
OpenSky Network Aviation data research