Web resource infodefensa.com published an interview with the director of unmanned programs of the Spanish branch of the Airbus Group, Felix Fernandez Merino, regarding the ongoing joint program of Spain and Colombia, Sirtap, to create an unmanned aviation complex based on a medium-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle of long flight duration (MALE class). In fact, this is the only program currently being implemented in Europe to create UAVs of this class.
The appearance of an unmanned aerial vehicle created by the Spanish branch of the Airbus Group within the framework of the joint program of Spain and Colombia Sirtap (c) Airbus / www.infodefensa.com
The Sirtap program was launched in 2017, when the defense ministers of Spain and Colombia signed a declaration of intent. In January 2019, the defense ministers of both countries signed a memorandum of understanding. Merigno said that by now the Spanish branch of Airbus is completing the preliminary design stage of the unmanned complex, and after the approval of the results of this stage by the Ministries of Defense of both countries, it is expected to sign a firm contract for R & D, testing and mass production and delivery of complexes in 2021. If the contract is signed in 2021, it is planned to start flight tests of UAVs in 2024 and deliveries-from 2025. It is not yet clear whether Colombia will take a direct part in the ROC program, but the Colombian state aviation industry organization CIAC intends to participate in the joint production of the complexes. It is stated that a number of third countries have already shown interest in this complex.
To date, the Spanish Army has announced the need to purchase nine Sirtap complexes to replace the IAI Searher UAV, and the Colombian armed forces plan to purchase six complexes to replace the Elbit Systems Hermes 450 UAV. The total potential needs of the armed forces of both countries are estimated at 35 complexes.Each complex will include three UAVs, two sets of payloads and one ground control station.
BLAH complex Sirtap based on the design used in 2015, the Spanish branch of the Airbus UAV demonstrator Atlante and originally had the project designation Atlante 2. An all-composite apparatus of the complex Sirtap made on typical devices of this class "predatoreprey" scheme with a V-tail should have a takeoff weight of 750 kg with a payload of 150 kg. Of these 150 kg, about half (75 kg) will be the mass of the standard modular reconnaissance and surveillance payload (optoelectronic station and synthetic aperture side-view radar). The length of the device is 7.3 m, the wingspan is 12 m, the height is 2.2 m. The chassis is not removable. In the tail section, an engine of an unnamed type (judging by the images - a turboprop) with a pusher screw is installed. A control system using satellite communications, which gives a theoretically unlimited range.
The device is initially created in a purely reconnaissance version, although in the future it is possible to install suspended weapons. Also, due to the reserve of the volume and mass of the payload (75 kg), it is possible to install electronic warfare equipment or radar for detecting surface targets for using the device as a marine patrol.
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