Indra to develop new generation of tactical military drones in Spain

Indra is leading a major modernization program to develop and manufacture a new generation of tactical military drones in Spain. Under the Santam (High Mobility Unmanned Aerial System) program, the project aims to provide the Spanish Armed Forces with 147 Class I unmanned aircraft, organized into 49 systems.

The project includes two distinct platforms: the Tarsis-W, a conventional takeoff and landing fixed-wing system capable of carrying light armament, and the Tarsis-VTOL, a vertical takeoff and landing system designed for agile operations and ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) missions. Both platforms feature a wingspan of approximately six meters, a maximum takeoff weight of 150 kg, a flight ceiling of 15,000 feet, and an endurance of roughly ten hours.

With a budget of 364 million euros, the program involves a dozen national companies, universities, and research centers to ensure a highly nationalized supply chain and strategic autonomy. Deliveries to the Army, Navy, and Air and Space Force are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2028 and continue through 2030.