During our tour of the stands of Spanish companies at Eurosatory 2024, we visited AERTEC, where we had our first contact with their new drones, TARSIS ISTAR and TARSIS-W. The Madrid-based company continues to refine the design of this tactical unmanned aerial vehicle in the category 1 (95 kilograms).
Designed and focused on performing Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions, the drones also feature attack capabilities through the use of µASM A-Fox missiles in the TARSIS-W version, as demonstrated by AERTEC at the exhibition.
AERTEC highlights the standout features of the TARSIS drone family, which are designed to meet two important requirements in their category. The first is a large payload capacity and modularity of 12 kilograms, and the second is a 12-hour flight autonomy.
The drones have the capability for autonomous takeoff and landing, including automated controls for all phases of flight, and additional equipment such as recovery parachutes and various sensor packages. The ISTAR version presented at Eurosatory includes new EO+IR gyro-stabilized cameras for surveillance missions. Additionally, for ISTAR missions, they can automatically generate target alerts and track moving targets at distances of up to 8 kilometers.
The TARSIS-W version is a higher performance model weighing 120 kilograms, with a payload capacity of up to 30 kilograms. One of its main features is its attack mission capability, thanks to the integration of µASM A-Fox missiles. According to the company, this is a guidance kit for rockets that converts them into micro-missiles. It is easy to mount and can be used with conventional launchers currently in use with minimal modifications, providing a range of 4,000 meters. AERTEC has highlighted that several units of the TARSIS drone family are already in service with the Spanish Army.
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