Exail’s high-performance inertial measurement technology has been selected for integration into the Airbus SIRTAP tactical unmanned aerial system (UAS).
Chosen in partnership with Spanish firm Grafinta, Exail’s UmiX-40 Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) will be a core element of the navigation system developed by GMV for the SIRTAP platform.
The selection of its UmiX-40 IMU is said to reflect Exail’s growing influence in the defense and aerospace sectors, particularly for systems requiring advanced navigation capabilities in GNSS-denied or degraded environments. Its ultra-compact form factor and rugged architecture make it ideally suited for tactical UAS platforms where size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints are paramount.
The UmiX-40 is an advanced solid-state IMU that integrates Exail’s proprietary Fiber-Optic Gyroscopes (FOG) and Vibrating Beam Accelerometers. This design enables precise navigation and platform stabilization even under extreme operating conditions or in the absence of satellite signals. Its performance ensures that unmanned systems can maintain flight path integrity and mission continuity when GPS signals are unavailable or compromised.
With a plug-and-play interface and highly robust construction, the UmiX-40 is engineered for easy integration and long-term reliability in challenging tactical environments. This makes it an ideal fit for long-endurance Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions where accurate positioning and control are critical.
Alexandre Maia, Regional Sales Manager at Exail, said, “We are grateful for the trust Airbus and GMV have placed in us for this important project. The UmiX-40’s precision, ruggedness, and compact design make it an excellent fit for SIRTAP UAS’s demanding operational needs. Its high-performance capabilities will provide a reliable and precise navigation solution to meet the operational requirements of the Spanish Army and Air and Space Forces.”
Airbus’s SIRTAP is a versatile tactical UAS designed to perform high-end ISR operations with an endurance of over 20 hours and a range exceeding 2,000 kilometers. Developed with operational flexibility in mind, SIRTAP is capable of both national and international missions across diverse terrains and contested airspaces.
The integration of the UmiX-40 IMU significantly strengthens the SIRTAP platform by ensuring accurate, resilient navigation throughout all phases of flight—taxi, takeoff, cruising, and landing—even in GPS-degraded or denied conditions. This enhancement will allow SIRTAP to maintain mission effectiveness in complex and dynamic operational theaters.
