Spain Plans To Convert Aircraft Carrier Juan Carlos I For Drone Operations

Spain’s Navy is planning to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) aboard its flagship aircraft carrier, the Juan Carlos I.

The Spanish Navy plans to integrate the Airbus-developed SIRTAP drone onto the ship, to ensure the vessel remains operationally relevant as its fleet of EAV-8B+ Matador II jets nears retirement.

In a joint initiative with Spanish shipbuilder Navantia, Airbus announced the signing of an agreement to study the integration of the SIRTAP UAV on the Juan Carlos I.

The goal is to ensure full compatibility between the drone and the carrier, particularly in terms of command and control (C2), combat system integration, and navigation support, which will include takeoff and landing operations.

The Juan Carlos I is classified as a landing helicopter dock (LHD), but it also has fixed-wing aircraft capabilities, with a ski-jump ramp for short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) operations.

The ship currently operates the EAV-8B+ Matador II, but Spain plans to retire these jets between 2030 and 2034. Since replacing them with the F-35B would be costly, the integration of drones like the SIRTAP is seen as a more cost-effective solution to maintain carrier-based fixed-wing operations.

Airbus developed the SIRTAP as a high-end tactical UAV designed primarily for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

The drone can carry two payloads, including an electro-optical turret and multi-mission radar, within a 400-pound mission payload. It has a maximum takeoff we…

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