GMV has been selected by Airbus for the development of the navigation system for the SIRTAP (High Performance Remotely Manned System) tactical drone.
The contract covers both the equipment on board the aircraft and the ground augmentation station to improve the accuracy of navigation during takeoff and landing. The SIRTAP drone is designed for advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions (day and night), both on land and at sea.
With a range of over 2,000 kilometers and an endurance of over 20 hours, it will be able to fly in the harshest environmental and operational conditions (-40⁰C and +50⁰C). In the future, attack capability could also be integrated.
According to GMV, the SIRTAP (High Performance Remotely Manned System) system will enable a leap forward in terms of performance in the high-end tactical unmanned aircraft segment. Its dual application, both in support of civil and military operations, will offer a wide range of missions adapted to the operational needs of institutional and government customers.
Alongside the development of the navigation system, GMV will also develop the front view camera that the pilot uses remotely for taxiing, take-off and landing operations.
Manuel Pérez, GMV’s General Director of Defense and Security, highlighted that “2024 is a very positive year for GMV in the defense and security field”, which has allowed a growth of almost 40%, exceeding 500 professionals in this sector.
The Army and the Air and Space Forces will have 27 of these drones that Airbus will manufacture in Spain, with the first units scheduled for the first half of 2027. SIRTAP has also attracted the interest of other nations, aspiring to be a leading platform in its segment internationally.
