The U-SCUAR strategic project will enable SAIL IV operations through advanced research in the field of UAS

In a context dominated by open category operations that restricts the use of unmanned vehicles to a very small amount of missions with a limited scope and benefits. Other operations with great added value are relegated due to their higher degree of complexity and risk. This causes fewer missions of this profile compared to the first ones, slowing down the beneficial use of unmanned vehicles for missions with high added value and greater operational complexity. 

The U-SCUAR consortium was born in this challenging context with the objective of undertaking advanced research in the field of unmanned systems, in order to comply with the requirements of European regulations on UAS.

The objective of this consortium is to provide the platform with technologies focused on operations under the highest efficiency and safety standards, enabling the safe use of unmanned vehicles in advanced operations such as firefighting, maritime rescue, coastal surveillance, etc.

The project proposes the definition and development of a complete system that can operate in medium-risk SAIL III and IV operational scenarios following the SORA methodology and in effective compliance with the requirements of the European regulations on UAS in order to provide the platform of technologies focused on operations under the highest standards of efficiency and safety.

The U-SCUAR project has been recognized for its strong strategic, technological, and innovative nature, which is why it has become part of the Aeronautical Technology Programme (PTA) of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. In turn, this programme is framed within the Strategic Project for Aerospace Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE), approved by the Interministerial Commission in March 2022 and which plans to mobilize around 4,533 million euros between 2021 and 2025 to strengthen capabilities of the aviation industry. U-SCUAR stands out for its contribution to unmanned aerial vehicle technologies, meeting the necessary requirements to enter the programme.

The consortium of high technological base companies that will work on the U-SCUAR project will be led by the company Wake Engineering, to which important strategic partners are added such as UAV Navigation, Pildo Consulting, Aurea Avionics or Aeromedia UAV. Likewise, it should be noted that the consortium will receive a strong involvement from collaborations with Research Organizations such as AICIA, UPM or CATEC. This consortium of national firms reveals the technological strength of the Spanish industry in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles and its ability to collaborate and generate synergies that enable top-level projects to be undertaken.

This project was subsidized by the CDTI, co-financed with European funds from the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism and supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation.

The expansion in the use of UAS of specific category in missions of great benefit to society will be a reality thanks to the ambitious project developed by the U-SCUAR consortium.