Spain strikes deal with Greek Navy over unmanned helicopters

Spain strikes deal with Greek Navy over unmanned helicopters.

Spain will supply five unmanned helicopters to the Greek Navy in a deal worth just over one million euros.

THE Greek Navy has signed an agreement with Altus LSA in Greece and Alpha Unmanned Systems (AUS) in Spain for the purchase of five new Alpha 900 UAV helicopters for use on board its frigates (warships) to improve maritime security and surveillance.

The contract is valued at just over one million euros, according to ABC, and it is the first major NATO customer to acquire this unmanned helicopter from the Madrid-based company AUS.

The new Alpha 900 can take off vertically from a moving vessel and land autonomously on a navy ship, requiring little space to perform these two essential operations.

It can also fly for a longer period of time than other UAVs of similar size (up to 4 hours and carry payloads of up to 4 kg). In addition, it is built “Stanag Compliant”, so that all critical systems are redundant.

All this makes it a perfect technology for navies, coast guard and/or intelligence operations, surveillance, target approach and/or reconnaissance at sea.

This type of unmanned aircraft is increasingly in demand and Alpha Unmanned Systems, a 100% Spanish-owned technology company that designs and manufactures its own helicopter drone (UAV) systems, is hoping that deal spur to “other potential customers around the world,” according to the company’s CEO, Eric Freeman.

“We will soon be ready to announce similar commitments with other partners,” he concluded.

The Madrid-based company also specialises in UAV engineering services.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article, do remember to come back and check The Euro Weekly News website for all your up-to-date local and international news stories and remember, you can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.