French company Exail and Spanish firm Grafinta will supply the UmiX-40 Inertial Measurement Unit for Airbus’ SIRTAP tactical drone.
The UmiX-40 provides high-precision navigation and stabilization in a compact design developed for space-constrained platforms such as the SIRTAP.
Built with in-house fiber-optic gyroscopes and vibrating beam accelerometers, the UmiX-40 performs reliably in global navigation satellite system-denied environments.
It provides low noise, low latency, high bandwidth, and precise 3D rotation measurement.
Through its plug-and-play setup and Exail’s UmiX-40 technology, the system supports long intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions while enabling SIRTAP to maintain accurate navigation from takeoff to landing, even in degraded conditions.
“The UmiX-40’s precision, ruggedness, and compact design make it an excellent fit for SIRTAP UAS’s demanding operational needs,” stated Alexandre Maia, Regional Sales Manager at Exail.
“Its high-performance capabilities will provide a reliable and precise navigation solution to meet the operational requirements of the Spanish Army and Air and Space Forces,” added Maia.
SIRTAP
SIRTAP is a long-endurance unmanned aerial system built by Airbus for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations.
It can simultaneously integrate two payloads, such as an electro-optical turret and a multi-mission radar.
It can fly for over 20 hours and cover over 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles).
It features an ice protection and high-temperature amplitude system, enabling it to operate between -40 and +50 degrees Celsius (-40 to +122 degrees Fahrenheit).
Last year, Airbus announced significant progress in developing the first prototypes of the SIRTAP drone for the Spanish Armed Forces.
In 2023, Madrid signed a 495-million-euro ($554 million) contract with Airbus to acquire nine SIRTAP systems, each consisting of three unmanned aerial vehicles and a ground control station.
