Colombia participates in the construction of SIRTAP, a military drone produced jointly with Airbus aerospace industry in Spain. Eleven Colombian engineers and nine technicians from the Colombian Aeronautical Industry Corporation (CIAC) are currently developping a landing gear for the unmanned aircraft system.
The project, regarded as a milestone for Colombia’s aerospace industry, was carried out under a cooperation agreement between the Colombian government and Airbus, aimed at enhancing the technical and human capacities of the country’s defense sector.
Colombian engineers participate in Airbus’ SIRTAP drone project
In May 2023, during President Gustavo Petro’s visit to Spain, Colombia signed a US$300 million agreement with Airbus to develop SITRAP, a military drone. A year later, the Colombian government invested US$16.5 million to acquire 18 of these drones.
The landing system will be integrated inton Airbus’ unmanned aircraft, known as High-Performance Remotely Piloted High Performance System (SIRTAP, for its acronym in Spanish), used by the Spanish Air and Land Forces, as well as by the Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC) for intelligence missions.
The landing gear is being manufactured at CIAC’s facilities in Bogota. Test flights of the SIRTAP, equipped with this new technological component, are scheduled for September 2025 in Getafe, Spain, near the capital Madrid, where one of Airbus’ plants operates.
During these tests, the component’s endurance will be assessed under extreme environmental conditions and high-intensity braking scenarios.
“This has been a meticulous and disciplined process that has relied on the talent of Colombian engineers and technicians from CIAC, and carried out in multiple stages,” said Ana Catalina Cano Londoño, Vice Minister of Veterans of the Social and Business Group of Defense (GSED), a Colombian entity supporting national defense through specialized services and initiatives.
“Initially, the needs were identified, followed by a preliminary review of the system’s design, which required diverse skills and expertise,” she explained.
The personnel involved in the project, she added, have the expertise to design and manufacture highly complex aeronautical components. “This experience, combined with other key capabilities, has positioned CIAC as a strategic partner for industry leaders like Airbus,” said Cano.
SIRTAP’s characteristics
The SIRTAP unmanned aircraft has a 12-meter wingspan, a 7-meter length, and a maximum takeoff weight of 750 kilograms, with a payload capacity exceeding 150 kilograms, including the option to carry weapons.
It features an electro-optical system with infrared vision and a synthetic aperture radar.
The drone’s frontal support system, enabling takeoff and landing, was designed by Colombia’s CIAC in collaboration with Airbus.
Development took two years of meticulous work, identifying key structural and operational requirements to ensure the component’s reliability and performance, according to the Ministry of Defense.
The Ministry of Defense emphasized that with the SIRTAP’s landing gear, “Colombia demonstrates its ability to develop advanced technologies and strengthens its role in aircraft manufacturing and design.”