The Spanish Army will be the first military force to operate Airbus’ Sirtap UAV (Sistema Remotamente Tripulado de Altas Prestaciones – High-Performance Remotely Piloted System). The first delivery is scheduled to take place between late 2026 and early 2027.
In November 2023, Spain placed an order with Airbus for 81 UAVs and 27 ground control stations, worth a total of $540 million. Francisco Javier Sanchez Segura, President of Airbus Spain, announced during an information session in Madrid that deliveries would commence at the end of 2026.
Priority for the Army
Currently in production, the Sirtap UAV is being assembled on the production line at Airbus’ Getafe facility in Madrid. The initial delivery to the Spanish Army is considered a critical step, as the older Israeli-made Searcher UAVs are being phased out, and there is an urgent need for new systems.
The Sirtap will later be delivered to the Spanish Air and Space Force.
Funded by the Ministry of Defence
Airbus Spain President Sanchez Segura emphasised that the Sirtap programme is fully funded by the Spanish Ministry of Defence and is regarded as one of the key projects of the Defence Industry Strategy.
In January 2024, Airbus and Spanish shipbuilder Navantia signed an agreement to develop a special version of the Sirtap for the Spanish Navy. The new model is being designed to operate from the flight deck of the LHD Juan Carlos I aircraft carrier. Currently, the Bayraktar TB3 remains the first and only UAV capable of taking off and landing on short-runway ships.
Regarding the collaboration, Sánchez Segura noted, “The Airbus team spent four to five days aboard the Juan Carlos I ship.”
As part of the project, the UAV will be integrated with the SCOMBA combat management system. Airbus has announced that it will focus on various areas to ensure full operational readiness.
First Flight Tests in 2025
At the end of 2023, the Spanish Ministry of Defence became the first customer for the Sirtap, purchasing nine systems. Each system includes one ground control station and three air vehicles. This acquisition aims to enhance the tactical capacity of both the Army and the Air and Space Force.
The first prototype of the Sirtap, built at Airbus’ Getafe facility, is expected to begin flight testing by the end of 2025.
Sirtap Technical Specifications
According to Airbus, the Sirtap UAV:
- Can carry a payload exceeding 150 kg.
- Has a range of over 2,000 km.
- Offers more than 20 hours of endurance.
The UAV is designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions over land and sea, can take off from short or unprepared runways, and is suitable for day and night operations.
Airbus also revealed that the Sirtap is compatible with the Next Generation Fighter (NGF) project, set to enter service from 2040 as part of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS)/SCAF initiative involving France, Germany, and Spain, and is being developed to work alongside FCAS remote carriers.
