Colombia officializes acquisition of six Atlante II drone systems.

In February 2024, Colombia formalized the purchase of six complete systems of the Atlante II drone, a project developed in collaboration with Spain. Valued at 300 million dollars, the contract includes 16 drones and six command centers. The drone, known as SIRTAP in Spain and Atlante II in Colombia, was initially named the Spanish Unmanned Long Range Tactical Aircraft before development began.
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Airbus ATLANTE II (or SIRTAP) drone (Picture source: Airbus)

The Atlante II (or SIRTAP) drones, measuring 7.3 meters in length and 11 meters in width, have a maximum takeoff weight of 750 kilograms. They are designed for long-distance surveillance and reconnaissance missions, capable of flying for over 20 hours or covering 2,000 kilometers. These capabilities make them suitable for continuous operations, day and night, in challenging environments.

Each Atlante II system consists of three drones and a ground control station, which are used to manage operations and receive images and signals. This compact format allows two systems to be transported in a C-295 aircraft, facilitating rapid deployment on improvised runways.

The first delivery of these systems to Colombia is scheduled for 2027, with completion expected by 2030. This substantial investment in the Atlante II drone system illustrates Colombia's commitment to modernizing its defense capabilities and integrating advanced technologies into its military strategies.

In February 2019, the Ministries of Defense of Colombia and Spain signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to proceed with the joint project for developing, designing, and producing high-performance tactical UAV systems under the program name SIRTAP.

The goal of the Atlante II (or SIRTAP) program is to introduce a new drone system that can enter service with the Armed Forces of Colombia and Spain in 2023, based on the ATLANTE UAV, designed in Spain by ADS, which is tailored to meet the operational needs of the Colombian and Spanish Armed Forces in terms of performance and tactical use.

On November 29, 2023, Spain also confirmed the acquisition of nine complete systems and two simulators for a total of 500 million euros. Each system includes three drones and a ground control station, producing 27 aircraft and nine command centers for the control and reception of images and signals.

The first flight of the SIRTAP is planned for 2025, with the first delivery expected in 2027. The program aims to complete all deliveries by 2030, thereby equipping the Spanish and Colombian armed forces with a state-of-the-art aerial surveillance and combat tool. This Spanish-Colombian collaboration not only underscores both nations' commitment to defense innovation but also highlights the growing importance of drones in modern military strategy.

The goal of the Atlante II (or SIRTAP) program is to introduce a new drone system that can enter service with the Armed Forces of Colombia and Spain in 2023, based on the ATLANTE UAV, designed in Spain by ADS, which is tailored to meet the operational needs of the Colombian and Spanish Armed Forces in terms of performance and tactical use.