Airbus has disclosed plans for Spain, Colombia, and five other Latin American nations to procure the Sirtap, a dual-use strategic platform developed jointly by Spain and Colombia.
This was confirmed during the F-Air 2023 event by Airbus’s regional director, Victor de la Vela.
The two lead countries intend to purchase a total of 45 units initially, with Spain acquiring 27 and Colombia obtaining 18, all of which will be operated by their Armed Forces.
These units could serve in both environmental protection missions and natural hazard support roles.
De la Vela confirmed that Colombia will contribute to the design and manufacturing of the Sirtap’s empennage and landing gear, with wind tunnel tests commencing in the near future.
The Sirtap, a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), offers a range of over 2,000 kilometers, 20 hours of autonomy, and a payload capacity of 180 kilograms, making it appealing to its prospective operators.
This remotely operated aircraft is designed for intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance purposes, boasting an impressive wingspan of 7.3 meters and a width of 12 meters when its wings are fully extended.
With a height of 2.2 meters and a weight of 750 kilograms, the Sirtap is equipped with advanced features, including a high-powered electro-optical and infrared camera and radar for target detection.
Expected to be operational by 2025, the Sirtap drone will replace existing drones employed by Spain and Colombia, such as the Hermes 450 and the Searcher.