SIRTAP: a testament to cooperation and work on interoperability

It's 2027 and the Spanish military is taking delivery of its new advanced drones, marking a significant milestone in European aerospace and defence collaboration. Behind this is years of development that showcases the power of cooperation among European companies of all sizes, and underscores the critical importance of interoperability and certification in modern defence technology.

Collaboration across Europe and industry

The SIRTAP is a high-performance tactical Remotely Piloted Aerial System (RPAS). Airbus, a member of ASD and leader in the aerospace industry, secured a €495 million contract in 2023 from the Spanish Ministry of Defence to develop and deliver nine SIRTAP systems. Each system includes three unmanned aerial vehicles and one ground control station.

Spanish company, Sener, renowned for its expertise in data links and communications, was contracted to provide the Line-of-Sight (LoS) data link systems for SIRTAP. These systems ensure communication between the unmanned aircraft and ground stations.

Interoperability

Achieving the Critical Design Review (CDR) in June 2024 was a pivotal milestone for SIRTAP, indicating that its design was mature enough to begin manufacturing.

At the heart of Critical Design Reviews in the European context as the S-Series specifications. These specifications, developed by three key aerospace associations, including ASD, facilitate the seamless exchange of technical data.

In the context of PDRs and CDRs, these specifications enhance interoperability, maximise data reuse, and improve operational readiness and efficiency. They provide a comprehensive framework for integrating product support elements with engineering data sources.

Conclusion

The development of the SIRTAP systems symbolises a triumph of European collaboration and innovation in the aerospace and defence sectors. It underscores the importance of supporting interoperability and certification efforts, which are vital for the development of cutting-edge technology capable of meeting the demands of modern military operations.