European aerospace giant Airbus announced on the 17th that the first prototype of the SIRTAP drone system, tailored for Spain, has been assembled and is set to undergo a series of ground tests. According to the Airbus press release, the completed SIRTAP prototype has been moved to a facility in Getafe, Spain, where structural assessments and intensive ground evaluation of major system components and software will take place over the next few months.

It is expected that the first flight will take place by the end of the year at the Unmanned System Testing Center of the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) in Spain. The Spanish Ministry of Defense signed a contract with Airbus in November 2023 to procure nine sets of the SIRTAP drone system, each comprising three drones, one ground control station, and communications equipment, which will be operated by the Army and Air Force. The Spanish military is expected to receive the first complete system by 2027.

The SIRTAP, developed by Airbus, is an advanced drone system with versatile mission capabilities, capable of performing combat and non-traditional tasks in all weather conditions. It is equipped with advanced cooling and de-icing technologies, allowing for operation in extreme environments ranging from -40 to -50 degrees Celsius. Its maximum flight altitude is 6,400 meters, with a loitering time of up to 20 hours and a payload capacity exceeding 150 kilograms, including the ability to carry different modules as needed for missions such as surveillance, maritime patrol, and homeland observation, enhancing the Spanish military's homeland defense capabilities.