The Spanish government is considering introducing unmanned aircraft to increase their maritime border surveillance in the Strait of Gibraltar. Tests have already taken place.
All of the main routes of drug trafficking into Spain go across water, said David Rios-Morentin, a manager from the Border Management Systems division of Spanish defence contractor Isdefe. The primary areas of concern are the Canary Islands and the Strait of Gibraltar.
“Electro-optic coverage can detect vessels approaching by sea as far as 10 nautical miles away. Additional radar coverage extends 25 nautical miles, but sometimes fast-moving, smaller wooden and rubber watercraft are harder to detect, making them a favourite of drug traffickers headed for the coast. The craft they’re typically looking for are only 5-15 metres long and 1-2 meters above sea level.
“Small aircraft are detectable, but hard to stop, he said. A UAS patrolling Spain’s waters would provide authorities with eyes well beyond their 25-mile limit, giving them advance notice and more time to intercept a target.”
The Spanish government is interested in long endurance UAS that could cover greater distances, and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capable UAS, that could be launched from ships at sea.
Source: Panorama Gibraltar