The assembly process has begun with the arrival of key components such as the fuselage and wings, manufactured by Spanish companies. The final assembly of the first prototype is expected to be completed by spring 2025, after which ground tests will take place at the Getafe facility.
🆕 SIRTAP reaches a new milestone, moving towards the production of the first prototype.
The Final Assembly Line for the two prototypes of SIRTAP has been put into operation at the Airbus facilities in Getafe, near Madrid. 🇪🇸 Completion of the final assembly of the first… pic.twitter.com/Zk3adZQiKv
— Airbus Newsroom (@AirbusPRESS) November 18, 2024
Flight testing is planned to begin before the end of 2025 at the Centre of Excellence for Unmanned Systems (CEUS) operated by the National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) in Moguer, southern Spain. The system is intended for use by the Spanish Army (Ejército de Tierra) and the Spanish Air and Space Force (Ejército del Aire y del Espacio).
The agreement includes the delivery of nine SIRTAP systems, each comprising three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and a ground control station. Two operator training simulators, whose designs recently passed critical project reviews, will also be delivered to support training and operational readiness.
Airbus highlighted the strategic importance of the SIRTAP project. “The design, development and manufacturing of this remotely piloted vehicle provides Spain with national sovereignty in the technological, industrial and tactical fields,” the company stated. The UAV is designed for a range of missions, including search and rescue, maritime surveillance, border monitoring, disaster assessment, and combating illegal activities such as drug trafficking and unregulated fishing.
