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Spain to take SIRTAP to sea

By Gareth Jennings |

The SIRTAP seen aboard the Juan Carlos I amphibious assault ship. Airbus and Navantia are to integrate the unmanned aircraft system onto the aircraft carrier for the Spanish Navy. (Airbus)

Spain intends to operate the Airbus SIRTAP from sea, with an agreement to integrate the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) aboard the country's sole aircraft carrier announced on 28 January.

Airbus and state-owned shipbuilding company Navantia announced the agreement, which will see the SIRTAP (a Spanish acronym that loosely translates as Integrated System for High-Performance Unmanned Air System) medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAS operate from the Spanish Navy (Armada) Juan Carlos I amphibious assault ship.

“Airbus and Navantia sign an agreement to explore the integration of SIRTAP into the Spanish Navy Juan Carlos I flagship. This aims to be the first step to guarantee the interoperability of SIRTAP with the rest of [the] systems of the carrier, such as the SCOMBA [Sistema de COMbate de Buques de la Armada] combat [management] system,” Airbus Defence and Space said.

As noted in the announcement, the integration activities will focus on three primary pillars of command-and-control, combat system integration, and navigation support (including take-off and landing operations).

“This joint effort seeks to achieve a fully integrated system, ensuring complete compatibility between SIRTAP and [the] Juan Carlos I carrier, increasing its mission capabilities, operational flexibility, and the overall effectiveness of both platforms in diverse operational scenarios,” Airbus Defence and Space said, adding, “This agreement could set the path to offer the Spanish Navy with additional capabilities developed in Spain, strengthening the national industry in the benefit of its strategic sovereignty.”

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