Thread by @elisabethmalom1

🧵Latest at #FEINDEF: Airbus Spain is ready to start work on the high-endurance drone SiRTAP for the Spanish and Colombian air forces, saying the first units could be delivered to #Spain by 2026 if the government approves a contract soon.
defensenews.com/unmanned/2023/…

2. Officials have confirmed that #Spain is considering procuring a total of 27 SiRTAPs [each of which consists of three aircraft, a ground control station and data reception equipment]. The drone is currently still in a pre-design phase.

3. Both countries signed an MoU for cooperation on the drone in 2019, followed by a formal proposal submitted by Airbus to the Spanish Ministry of Industry in Jan 2021. More recently, the Spanish MoD obtained approval to invest roughly €500 million into the drone project.

4. Airbus reps have previously stressed the program’s premise of producing 90% of drone components in Spain. However, this week some have said that in order to meet goals of fast-tracking the program, compromise may have to be reached in possibly opting for non-Spanish suppliers

5. SiRTAP is envisioned to have over 20H of endurance, flying at altitudes of 21,000 feet while carrying up to 150kg of payload. A collapsible design means forces can eventually transport it overland and by air in transport aircraft such as the C-295, which can carry 2 drones.

6. Officials said that the platform was primarily designed as a cost-effective solution to appeal in part to air forces with lower budgets but wishing to acquire advanced capabilities and certifications.

7. Although the SiRTAP drone project is currently a Spanish-Colombian story, other countries are said to have shown interest in the drone and are closely monitoring its development, including #France.