Airbus has secured a €30 million framework contract with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to provide Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) services for maritime surveillance using the Flexrotor Uncrewed Aerial System. The contract aims to enhance Coast Guard missions by increasing coastal range and endurance capabilities.
“We are proud to partner with the European Maritime Safety Agency on this turnkey contract which allows the Flexrotor to fly operationally for the first time in Europe and to serve the critical mission of enhancing maritime surveillance,” said Victor Gerin-Roze, Head of Uncrewed Aerial Systems at Airbus Helicopters. “We have conducted multiple demonstration flights with the Flexrotor across Europe, showcasing its long endurance and the variety of systems it can carry, which is unique for a UAS of this size. We welcome the opportunity to demonstrate in Europe why the Flexrotor is the leading high-performance, reliable solution for this mission profile,” he added.
The main service will involve flight operations using Flexrotor aircraft, providing Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) and radar imagery. This information will be streamed directly to EMSA’s RPAS Data Centre, allowing national authorities in EU Member States to monitor flights in real time. The data collected will support various Coast Guard tasks such as search and rescue operations, fisheries control, environmental protection efforts, and detection of illegal activities at sea.
Flexrotor systems under this agreement may be deployed simultaneously from two locations within any participating country. There is also flexibility built into the contract that allows additional parallel operations if needed. The surveillance services will benefit not only EU Member States but also Norway, Iceland, and relevant EU institutions.
The initial term of the framework contract is two years with an option for two additional one-year extensions, potentially extending service delivery up to four years. Operations are set to start in 2026 and will be carried out by French company Extensee.
The Flexrotor is a vertical takeoff and landing uncrewed aircraft weighing 25 kg (55 lbs). It is designed for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance missions lasting more than 12-14 hours under typical conditions or 10 hours when configured for EMSA requirements. The system can carry various payloads including electro-optical equipment and advanced sensors tailored to specific mission needs. Its autonomous launch and recovery capability requires only a small area—3.7 by 3.7 meters—making it suitable for missions that need minimal setup space.
