Airbus Defence and Space has rolled out the first prototype of its SIRTAP military drone and will begin ground testing it during the coming months in Getafe, Spain.
SIRTAP is a high-performance tactical drone designed to operate in all weather conditions at temperatures of between -40⁰C and +50⁰C, thanks to an ice protection and high temperature amplitude system. It can fly for up to 20 hours at altitudes of more than 20,000 ft.
SIRTAP is intended for day/night operations and maritime Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions and to provide rapid response for close target inspection.
The ground testing program of SIRTAP will take place over several months and include structural evaluations, main-systems components and software testing. Airbus is targeting the drone’s maiden flight for for the end of this year at Spain’s National Institute of Aerospace Technology’s (INTA’s) Unmanned Systems Test Centre (CEUS) in Huelva, south-west Spain.
The subsequent SIRTAP flight-test campaign at CEUS will run throughout 2026 to obtain type certification and ensure that the aircraft meets safety and performance standards. The first drone is scheduled for delivery to Spain in 2027.
Speaking at the Paris Air Show, Jean-Brice Dumont, head of air power, Airbus Defence and Space said, “It’s a beautiful beast and we will fly the prototype by the end of this year. We have to deliver in the first half of 2027. The contract was signed in 2023 by the Spanish Ministry of Defence, which shows big companies can move fast – in three and half years.”
“Designed and manufactured in Spain, SIRTAP will strengthen national sovereignty and will be a benchmark in the tactical unmanned aerial systems segment worldwide.”
The Spanish Ministry of Defence ordered 27 SIRTAP systems for €495 million in November 2023. The deal includes 27 drones and nine ground-control stations. Airbus is also supplying two simulators for training operators. This simulator has already passed the Critical Design Review stage of development.
SIRTAP is an ITAR-free (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) design that could potentially be developed into different versions, such as a naval version or with weapons, said Airbus. ITAR-free means that the drone can be freely shared with international partners and customers without the need for licensing and approval according to the USA-controlled regulations.
