European Maritime Safety Agency Selects Airbus Flexrotor Drone for Maritime Surveillance Missions
•February 10, 2026
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Companies Mentioned
Airbus
Why It Matters
The contract enhances EU maritime domain awareness, reducing response times to illegal activities and emergencies while showcasing European drone capabilities in critical security roles.
Key Takeaways
- •€30 million contract for EU maritime surveillance
- •Flexrotor offers 12‑hour endurance, VTOL capability
- •Data streamed live to EMSA RPAS Data Centre
- •Supports search‑and‑rescue, fisheries, environmental protection
- •Operations can run parallel in any EU member state
Pulse Analysis
The Airbus Flexrotor represents a significant leap in maritime ISR capability, marrying vertical‑take‑off‑and‑landing flexibility with long‑duration flight times. Weighing just 25 kg, the system can launch from a 12‑foot square, making it ideal for ship‑board or remote coastal deployments. Its modular payload architecture supports high‑resolution electro‑optical, infrared, and radar sensors, delivering persistent coverage over vast sea lanes where traditional manned aircraft are costly and limited.
For European coast guards, the Flexrotor contract translates into faster, data‑rich situational awareness. Live streaming of EO/IR and radar imagery to the EMSA RPAS Data Centre enables national authorities to monitor illegal fishing, smuggling, and environmental incidents in near real‑time. The ability to run two parallel operations from any participating nation reduces logistical footprints and accelerates response, while the optional third and fourth year extensions provide scalability as maritime threats evolve.
Strategically, the deal underscores the EU’s commitment to indigenous drone technology and autonomous surveillance. By integrating a French service provider, Extensee, the program supports local aerospace jobs and aligns with broader European defense autonomy goals. As other regions explore similar VTOL UAS solutions for maritime security, the Flexrotor’s success could set a benchmark, prompting further investment in high‑performance, low‑signature drones for a range of civil and security missions.
European Maritime Safety Agency selects Airbus Flexrotor drone for maritime surveillance missions
Marignane, France, 17 December 2025 – Airbus has been awarded a €30 million framework contract by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to provide Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) services for multipurpose maritime surveillance with the Flexrotor Uncrewed Aerial System. These services enhance Coast Guard missions by offering extended coastal range and long‑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 core service includes flight operations utilising the Flexrotor system, delivering Electro‑Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) and radar imagery. This data will be seamlessly streamed to the EMSA RPAS Data Centre used by the relevant national authorities of the Member States to follow the flights live. The services will directly support Coast Guard operations including search and rescue, fisheries control and environmental protection, as well as detection of illicit maritime activities.
The Flexrotor surveillance capabilities will support the national competent authorities of EU Member States, Norway, and Iceland, as well as relevant EU institutions. Under this contract the Flexrotor systems can be deployed in two operations in parallel with take‑off sites within any participating country, with the flexibility to add supplementary parallel operations if requested.
The initial framework contract is for two years, with the provision for two additional one‑year option periods, extending the maximum potential delivery timeframe up to four years. Service is scheduled to begin in 2026. Operations will be performed by French service provider Extensee.
The Flexrotor is a modern vertical‑take‑off‑and‑landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft with a launch weight of 25 kg (55 lb). It has been designed for ISTAR missions for more than 12‑14 hours in a typical operational configuration, and 10 hours in EMSA configuration. It can integrate different types of payloads, including an electro‑optical system and advanced sensors to suit customers’ unique mission needs. With the ability to autonomously launch and recover from either land or sea requiring only a 3.7 × 3.7 m (12 × 12 ft) area, the Flexrotor is ideal for expeditionary missions requiring a minimal footprint.
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