German actuator specialist Volz Servos GmbH has been awarded a contract by Airbus as supplier for the SIRTAP high-end tactical unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Volz will provide the Airbus SIRTAP drones with DA 26 actuators for the air conditioning system. SIRTAP’s dual applications will offer a wide array of missions tailored to the operational needs of customers both in the institutional and governmental markets like day/night and maritime Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. Airbus has signed a contract with the Spanish Ministry of Defence for the development and acquisition of SIRTAP, a High Performance Tactical UAS that will reinforce the tactical capabilities of the Spanish Army and the Air Space Force.
“We are extremely proud that Airbus has decided to rely on Volz Servos for the SIRTAP UAS project. This reinforces our conviction that our unique skill combination of agility and experience, high quality and reliability and not least certifiability is convincing even for big aviation players. The DA 26 actuators are perfect for the control of SIRTAP air doors to ensure appropriate equipment environment due to the greatest-possible power delivery and maximum safety and reliability, guaranteed by a brushless motor and a contactless, wear free position sensor”, says Volz CEO Phillipp Volz.
SIRTAP will operate under any weather conditions, thanks to an ice protection and high temperature amplitude system, it can operate between -40⁰C to +50⁰C. With over 20 hours endurance and flying at an altitude of 21,000 feet, the tactical UAS is fit for day/night and maritime Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, providing rapid response for close target inspection. SIRTAP, with a payload of more than 150kgs, has been designed for advanced surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance missions, both over land and at sea. A range of more than 2,000km and an endurance of more than 20 hours will provide high flexibility and reactivity, allowing for day and night operations in the most demanding environments.
SIRTAP will provide that performance leap in the high-end tactical UAS segment. The system will be certified to fly in segregated airspace. The wings and rotor of SIRTAP can be easily dismounted to allow transportation by standard containers both by land and by air in a transport aircraft like the C295, which can carry two SIRTAP in one flight. In the future, this tactical UAS will be able to operate jointly with other platforms to be integrated into a system of systems. The development of SIRTAP will bring the national industry key experience and competences in the field of Remote Carriers for FCAS. First flight of the SIRTAP prototype is expected to take place in 2025.
