General Atomics

Sopra Steria and EUROCONTROL extend partnership

Sopra Steria and EUROCONTROL have agreed a new five-year contract to further develop the local and sub-regional airspace management support system – better known as LARA.



Image courtesy Sopra Steria

The new agreement extends a long-standing successful partnership, which has seen LARA become the cornerstone of advanced airspace management for over fifteen years. The system enables real-time decision-making and optimised flight paths, enhancing the safety, efficiency and sustainability of air travel.

By supporting collaborative decision-making between civil and military airspace users, LARA provides common situational awareness to all stakeholders and increased efficiency, while enhancing safety and promoting harmonisation.

LARA has also helped to address environmental challenges – by reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions – and ensure safer skies, which is paramount for the millions of passengers who rely on air travel every day.  

Adrian Fieldhouse (above), Managing Director (Strategic Digital Solutions) at Sopra Steria UK, said: “We’re committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation to drive positive change in business and society – and it doesn’t get much more important than keeping people safe and reducing environmental impact. We’re therefore delighted to continue our journey with EUROCONTROL and are proud to deliver such critical infrastructure for the aviation sector.”

Major Gen Karsten Stoye, Head of Civil Military ATM Cooperation Division at EUROCONTROL, said: “The renewal of the contract with Sopra Steria confirms EUROCONTROL’s commitment to providing state-of-the-art airspace management capabilities to our civil and military stakeholders. LARA is a key pillar in ensuring a flexible, collaborative, and secure airspace environment, and its continued development and support are vital for the performance and resilience of the European Airspace Network.”

Xavier Pecquet, Executive Lead for Aeroline, Sopra Steria’s dedicated aerospace organisation, said: “This renewed commitment presents an exciting opportunity for Sopra Steria to actively support EUROCONTROL in addressing its evolving digital transformation challenges. By delivering innovative solutions like LARA, we are dedicated to enhancing flight efficiency, improving airspace capacity, while ensuring military mission effectiveness.”

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