CS SOFT

CS SOFT builds air traffic management systems and software for defence, critical infrastructure, and aviation maintenance—sectors where failure is not negotiable. Founded in 1988, spun out from Czech air navigation operations, the company has spent over three decades deploying systems across 14 countries on four continents: Indonesia, Israel, Lithuania, the USA, and throughout Europe. Since 2018 it operates as part of CSG Aerospace & Defence Electronics, a Central European industrial holding, which provides backing without diluting the core: a focused engineering team with average tenure exceeding ten years, deep domain expertise in safety-critical software, and the operational flexibility that larger defence contractors cannot match.

Services and capabilities

CS SOFT's flagship offering is SkyOptima ATM, a parametrisable automation system for area control centres (ACC), approach (APP), and tower (TWR) control. The system handles surveillance data processing and sensor fusion, flight data processing and correlation, controller coordination, integrated safety nets and conflict detection, and cross-border civil-military integration. Up to a third of every delivery is customised to local airspace requirements, operational procedures, and legacy infrastructure. The company also builds supporting tools: PAGODA, a real-time data link monitoring system distributed via Thales that detects anomalies in VDL/ACARS communication and reports compliance with EC 29/2009; and TCM (Traffic Complexity Management), which forecasts controller workload and supports what-if resectorisation analysis.

Beyond aviation, CS SOFT develops software for defence and dual-use applications. Recent work includes a Vehicle Information System (VIS) for a Czech armoured vehicle manufacturer, integrating data from dozens of on-board subsystems—powertrain, navigation, weapon systems, fire suppression, CBRN sensors—into a unified crew interface compliant with NATO NGVA standard (STANAG 4754). The company also deploys AI-powered tools in private environments: JATISmro for aviation maintenance prediction, DocPulse for intelligent document management, and Tendrio for AI-assisted tender analysis. A prototype for Tatra Defence Vehicles demonstrates AI-powered documentation management. The company operates its own SOC and builds systems in air-gapped networks where required by customer or sector regulations.

Development is structured around 14-day sprints with continuous customer acceptance. The technology stack spans C, C++, and Java for mission-critical core systems running on Linux (OpenSUSE) with Qt5 HMI interfaces. For cloud-native work, CS SOFT uses Docker, Kubernetes, GitOps, and CI/CD pipelines. Real-time data exchange integrates European SWIM standards with XML/JSON formats over TCP/IP. On the AI side, the company specialises in on-premise and edge deployment using Python, PostgreSQL in high-availability clusters, NoSQL solutions, and vector databases for SLM models and RAG techniques. Testing is shift-left: automated verification and AI-assisted quality checks begin at day one; digital twin principles model and validate systems before deployment.

Notable work

CS SOFT has deployed ATM systems at airports across multiple continents. Recent projects include the ALS ATM system for Sentani Airport in Papua, Indonesia (2024); Kaunas International Airport in Lithuania (2022), covering tower, approach, and area control backup; and Timna Airport in Israel (2020). For Czech Republic's ŘLP ČR, the company delivered a backup FDPS (ESUP-NS) with FF-ICE R1 integration (2022). Named partners in defence and infrastructure include Oro Navigacija (Lithuania), Thales (data link monitoring distribution), RETIA (software radar project), ELDIS (precision approach radar), UpVision (U-space unmanned traffic management joint venture for Czech airspace), and Tatra Defence Vehicles. The company also integrates with mainstream aviation standards: recent news mentions FF-ICE (Filed Flight Plan Information Exchange) for 4D trajectory management.

How they work

CS SOFT operates on a fixed delivery process: Concept/Design Review, Factory Acceptance Testing, training, installation, Site Acceptance Testing, shadow operation, go-live, and then 24/7 SLA support via IPVPN. Customisation is standard—up to a third of any ATM system is tailored to the customer's airspace, procedures, and existing infrastructure. The company positions itself as an independent alternative to large OEMs, offering faster integration cycles and direct engineering access. Long-term engagement is central: the company builds development roadmaps that evolve with customer operations and maintains dedicated support teams. Agile methodology operates within regulated frameworks; certification requirements (EASA, ED-153, ISO standards) are treated as baseline constraints, not obstacles.

Team and credentials

CS SOFT holds ISO 9001, ISO 27001, and ISO 12207 certifications. The company and its statutory representative carry SECRET-level security clearance under the Czech National Security Authority (NBÚ ČR). Products in development meet EASA regulations and ED-153 standards for Software Assurance Level 3 (SWAL 3). The company is preparing for full EASA approval. Team stability is exceptional: more than half the workforce has been with CS SOFT for over ten years. The founding team came from inside air traffic control operations; the founder understood safety-critical demands long before the company existed. CS SOFT is now part of CSG Aerospace & Defence Electronics, which houses radar manufacturers, UTM pioneers, VR/AR industrial training innovators, MRO specialists, and aviation training providers across Central Europe.