APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT IN AN UAV

Apparatus and method for management of communications in respect of a moving platform comprising at least one platform application and a communications system for transmitting data received from said at least one platform application and being configured to effect wireless data communication thereof by means of one or more supported communications links, wherein said apparatus comprises a link analysis and selection module which is configured to reside within a dynamic planning and management function on board said moving platform and: -receive, during mission execution,attribute data representative of platform movement and/or emissions control restrictions affecting a current communications link; -determine(100, 102), using said attribute data and based on said platform movement and/or emissions control restrictions, suitability of one or more communications links in respect of a communications requirement between said moving platform and another node; -determine a quality metric (106) for each of a plurality of communications links determined to be suitable; and -select one or more of said communications links based on said quality metrics.