SIRTAP
SIRTAP is a high-end tactical unmanned aerial system developed by Airbus Defence and Space at its Getafe facility in Spain. It is a sovereign Spanish programme, built to give the Spanish Armed Forces a locally designed, developed and manufactured UAS for long-endurance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance over land and sea.
Overview
The Spanish Ministry of Defence unveiled SIRTAP on 6 April 2024, having signed a manufacturing contract with Airbus Defence and Space on 29 November 2023 worth close to €495 million (about US$543 million) for nine complete systems — 27 aircraft and nine ground control stations — plus two crew-training simulators. Airbus is integrating the programme with 68 Spanish suppliers under an industrial plan targeting 70% national content, approved by Spain's DGAM procurement directorate. SIRTAP is linked to the broader European Future Combat Air System programme and is positioned to complement the larger Eurodrone in Spanish service.
Airbus completed SIRTAP's critical design review on 27 June 2024, freezing the aircraft's final architecture ahead of production. Spain's Council of Ministers approved the acquisition, and a first flight was scheduled for 2025, though no source has confirmed it has yet taken place. Final system certification is expected by the end of 2026, with deliveries to the DGAM planned to begin in 2027 and continue through 2030. The Spanish Army and the Air and Space Force are the programme's intended operators.
Design and capabilities
Airbus and Janes both give SIRTAP a maximum take-off weight of 700 kg and a payload capacity of up to 150 kg, able to carry two sensor payloads simultaneously, such as a multi-mission radar alongside an electro-optical/infrared turret; some other press figures have cited a heavier 750–800 kg take-off weight and a larger 180–200 kg payload, which may reflect an earlier or upgraded configuration. Airbus states an endurance of more than 20 hours, a range beyond 2,000 km using beyond-line-of-sight satellite connectivity, and a service ceiling above 21,000 ft (6,401 m), with an ice-protection system rated to -40°C.
The aircraft is designed for short take-off and landing from semi-prepared or dirt runways as short as 800 m, using ruggedised landing gear, and can be disassembled to fit inside a C-295 transport aircraft's cargo hold. Four underwing hardpoints and an ITAR-free architecture are built to allow a later armed-ISR upgrade with guided munitions, though Spain's initial order is unarmed. A second, electronic-warfare-focused configuration using further Spanish-made systems is reported to be under development.
Frequently asked questions
What is SIRTAP?
A sovereign Spanish tactical UAS built by Airbus Defence and Space at Getafe, Spain, for the Spanish Armed Forces' intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
How long can SIRTAP fly?
Airbus states an endurance of more than 20 hours and a range beyond 2,000 km using satellite connectivity.
Is SIRTAP armed?
Spain's initial order is unarmed, though the airframe's four underwing hardpoints are designed to allow a future armed-ISR upgrade.
When does SIRTAP enter service?
Deliveries to Spain's defence procurement agency are planned to begin in 2027 and continue through 2030, following certification expected by the end of 2026.
Who makes SIRTAP?
Airbus Defence and Space, which also builds the Eurodrone and the smaller Atlante UAS for Spain.
