Madrid, Spain / Le Bourget, France, 17 June 2025 – Airbus has completed the assembly of the inaugural SIRTAP prototype, its advanced tactical uncrewed aerial system, which is now set to enter the ground testing phase at its Defence and Space facilities in Getafe, Spain.
The upcoming ground tests will cover a range of assessments, including structural evaluations and main systems components, alongside software testing. This comprehensive campaign is expected to occur over the coming months, culminating in the maiden flight at Spain’s National Institute of Aerospace Technology’s (INTA’s) Unmanned Systems Test Centre (CEUS) in Huelva, scheduled for the end of 2025.
Following the initial testing, the SIRTAP flight-test campaign at CEUS will extend throughout 2026, playing a crucial role in achieving airworthiness type certification. This certification is vital to ensuring that the aircraft adheres to the highest safety and performance standards, with the first systems set for delivery to Spain in 2027.
Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space, remarked, “This new technical achievement for SIRTAP demonstrates Airbus’ agility to drive technological innovation with our aerospace industry partners in a timely manner in accordance with our vision. Designed and manufactured in Spain, SIRTAP will strengthen national sovereignty and will be a benchmark in the tactical unmanned aerial systems segment worldwide. It is another important brick in our ambition to shape a European ecosystem in defence aerospace.”
In November 2023, the Spanish Ministry of Defence secured a contract for nine systems, each comprising three remotely-piloted aircraft and a ground-control station. A total of 27 drones and nine ground-control stations will enhance the tactical capacity of the Spanish Armed Forces. Additionally, Airbus Defence and Space will provide two simulators to facilitate training for Spanish operators, having successfully completed the Critical Design Review, which confirms the architecture and design of the simulators.
The SIRTAP program exemplifies a strategic move towards innovation and national industrial collaboration, while the aircraft’s ITAR-free design makes it suitable for export. Its continued development may include various adaptations such as a naval version or weapons integration, further enhancing industrial capabilities in remotely-piloted vehicles.
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Source: Airbus Defence and Space (2025-06-16)
