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As we step into a new year, we take a moment to reflect on 2024, a year marked by significant milestones and transformative growth at ANRA Technologies. Thank you to our families, friends, colleagues, partners, stakeholders, and customers. Here is a look back at some of our achievements.

1.Product Innovation 

SORA-Mate: In September, in partnership with Hover UAV, we launched SORA-Mate, an intuitive web-based tool that lets operators of all sizes utilize the JARUS SORA methodology without the need to be an expert.  Using step-by-step instructions, verified sources of information and a design language built by experts, SORA-Mate guides its users through the process of developing a SORA safety case that is often required by regulators to obtain approval for BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations. By harnessing SORA-Mates automation, operators can quickly and easily assess an area, pull together the relevant Air and Ground risk information and produce a ready-to-submit safety case. SORA-Mate has already been introduced to Australia and New Zealand, with Canada and Europe expected in 2025 and more markets to follow.

2.  A Year of Firsts 

US UTM Implementation (aka Texas Key Site): For the first time, commercial drone operators shared airspace utilizing UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) services to strategically deconflict drone operations. This represented a major leap forward in the integration of drones into the broader airspace management system. ANRA’s Noon UTM system provides critical coordination for Arlington Police Department and Manna Drone Delivery, supporting the first-ever public safety and commercial drone operations within shared airspace with other operators such as Google Wing. Read more. 

FAA LOA for Strategic Conflict Detection Services: ANRA became the first non-vertically integrated UTM provider to receive FAA approval to deploy Strategic Conflict Detection services, supporting New York Power Authority’s (NYPA) BVLOS drone operations. ANRA was awarded a FAA Letter of Acceptance (LOA), enabling NYPA to operate drones BVLOS using ANRA’s highly acclaimed Mission Manager platform for streamlined mission planning, real-time tracking, and unmatched safety. Read more 

EASA USSP CERTIFICATION: Managed by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and National Aviation Authorities, U-space is the regulation that supports autonomous operations like BVLOS, Innovative Air Mobility (IAM), and cargo deliveries, leveraging advanced digital infrastructure for situational awareness and traffic management. To uphold safety and efficiency, U-space Service Providers (USSPs) undergo rigorous certification to deliver key services like geo-awareness and flight authorizations. ANRA Technologies, now in the 20th month of EASA’s certification process, is poised to become the world’s first certified USSP—highlighting our commitment to safety, innovation, and regulatory excellence. This milestone reinforces ANRA’s role in shaping a secure, connected airspace and advancing the global drone ecosystem. Read more here.

3. Some of the Projects Completed in 2024

FAA UAM Airspace Management Demonstrator (UAMD): ANRA completed  its final task last year for the UAMD project that included a series of deliverables with the aim of identifying and increasing the complexity of traffic flow management and demand capacity balancing (DMB) for use cases and aircraft described in the FAA’s UAM CONOPs v2. The project assessed UAM corridor operations, to include leveraging PSU interoperability to manage corridor imbalances, evaluating impact of additional resources within the corridor, multi-lane operations, and the addition of an auxiliary lane. ANRA was a Provider of Services for UAM (PSU) and provisioned its DCB service for this project.

UKRI CAELUS 2: ANRA is honored to have played a pivotal role as a key technology partner in supporting National Health System (NHS) Scotland’s live flight trials of Project CAELUS. For over two years, ANRA has provided its advanced UTM services and Delivery Management System (DMS) to power the UK’s first national drone distribution network. This innovative system leverages order fulfillment software to task drones with transporting critical medical supplies, including medicines, blood, and organs, across Scotland, revolutionizing the delivery of essential healthcare resources.

UKRI BLUEPRINT: ANRA concluded an United Kingdom (UK) based project called BLUEPRINT for the UK Research & Innovation Future Flight Challenge. Along with our partners, the 2-year effort developed a “blueprint” for a UK-wide rollout of BVLOS drone operations. This included ANRA providing UTM and DSS services at an airport to enable shared airspace services using a low-cost ground-based detect and avoid network. The project was also selected to take part in the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Temporary Reserved Area (TRA) Regulatory Sandbox to advance research & development flights within the TRA.

NATO TIE: For the second consecutive year, ANRA provided its Single Integrated Operating Picture (SIOP) technology for NATO’s Counter-UAS  Technical Interoperability Exercise (C-UAS TIE24). This effort brought together military, scientific and industry specialists to test high-tech commercial solutions designed to detect, identify, and neutralize drones. Over 60 systems and technologies – including sensors, effectors, jammers and threat drones – were tested live to ensure these solutions can connect instantly and operate seamlessly together. ANRA integrated over 14 sensors and incorporated blue force drone tracking to provide a common picture on a single dashboard.  This included the UK MoD’s  SAPIENT protocol, which uses autonomy to reduce the workload of people operating multi-sensor systems, in security and defence scenarios.

VERTIPORT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (VMS). ANRA wrapped up an 18-month project that encapsulated joint efforts between ANRA and Supernal in developing and testing an integrated UAM environment using Supernal’s simulated aircraft and ANRA’s VMS capabilities. ANRA adapted and integrated its VMS for use with Supernal’s fleet to enable powered lift aircraft operations within an envisioned Los Angeles-based vertiport network. ANRA’s VMS is scalable and agnostic to aircraft type, ensuring efficient management of vertiport activities.

4. ANRA Huddle Milestones

In 2024, ANRA Huddle celebrated our 10th webinar, marking a year of insightful discussions and global collaboration. Since day one, our mission has been to connect industry leaders and regulators in an informal and accessible format, exploring the dynamic and rapidly evolving drone ecosystem. With panelists from around the world, these webinars have provided a truly international perspective on topics that matter most to the industry. From emerging technologies to regulatory updates, ANRA Huddle sessions have addressed critical issues shaping the future of drones and advanced air mobility.

Thanks to your continued support, our audience has grown steadily, and your positive feedback has been truly inspiring. If you missed any of our past sessions or want to revisit key discussions, visit our website to access replays of previous episodes

As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited to invite you to register for the upcoming session on January 30th at 11am EST, where panelists will delve into whether automated operational risk assessments are the key to unlocking the next level of UAS integration or a hurdle that requires innovative solutions to overcome. 

5. Conferences, Trade Shows, Webinars, and Symposiums 

In 2024, ANRA actively participated in numerous conferences and tradeshows worldwide, engaging with the global UAS community. Highlights included CES, Singapore Airshow, XPONENTIAL, EASA Innovative Air Mobility Implementation Forum, FAA Drone / AAM Symposium, Farnborough International Airshow,  Commercial UAV Expo, Amsterdam Drone Week, Airspace World Geneva, ICAO Advanced Air Mobility Symposium, and GUTMA Harmonized Skies. 

Thank you! With the continued support of our dedicated team and partners, 2025 promises to be another year of growth, achievement, and transformation. We are excited by the possibilities that the new year brings! With the momentum built in 2024, we are ready to embrace fresh challenges and continue our journey of innovation and excellence to fulfill our mission.